taper off vs taper

taper off is not a noun while taper is a noun.

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

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