taper vs taper off

taper is a noun but taper off is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
taper	Yes	No	Yes	No
taper off	No	No	Yes	No

taper (noun)	taper off (noun)
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
a loosely woven cord (in a candle or oil lamp) that draws fuel by capillary action up into the flame
the property possessed by a shape that narrows toward a point (as a wedge or cone)
a convex shape that narrows toward a point

taper (verb)	taper off (verb)
give a point to	become smaller or less active
diminish gradually	end weakly