damper

[dam-per]

noun

1. a person or thing that damps or depresses.

   His glum mood put a damper on their party.

2. a movable plate for regulating the draft in a stove, furnace, etc.

3. Music.

   1. a device in stringed keyboard instruments to deaden the vibration of the strings.

   2. the mute of a brass instrument, as a horn.

4. Electricity.,  an attachment to keep the indicator of a measuring instrument from oscillating excessively, as a set of vanes in a fluid or a short-circuited winding in a magnetic field.

5. Machinery.,  a shock absorber.

6. Australian.

   1. a round, flat cake made of flour and water, and cooked over a campfire.

   2. the dough for such cakes.

damper

/ ˈdæmpə /

noun

1. a person, event, or circumstance that depresses or discourages

2. to produce a depressing or inhibiting effect on

   the bad news put a damper on the party

3. a movable plate to regulate the draught in a stove or furnace flue

4. a device to reduce electronic, mechanical, acoustic, or aerodynamic oscillations in a system

5. music the pad in a piano or harpsichord that deadens the vibration of each string as its key is released

6. any of various unleavened loaves and scones, typically cooked on an open fire

Word History and Origins

Origin of damper¹

First recorded in 1740–50; damp + -er ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see put a damper on.

Example Sentences

But it rides on a brilliantly tuned air suspension with adaptive dampers to tie down rebellious momenta.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It’s likely that Thursday’s storm will be more beneficial than hazardous, helping to further put a damper on the autumn fire season.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Triggered by emergency systems, control rods automatically shot up into the reactor cores, putting a damper on the movement of neutrons between the fuel rods.

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High housing costs have long put a damper on sales.

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High housing costs have long put a damper on sales.

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