moderator

American  

[mod-uh-rey-ter] / ˈmɒd əˌreɪ tər /

noun

1. a person or thing that moderates.

2. a person who presides over a panel discussion on radio or television.

3. a member of an online message board or electronic mailing list with privileges and responsibilities to approve or reject messages and uphold the terms of service.

4. a presiding officer, as at a public forum, a legislative body, or an ecclesiastical body in the Presbyterian Church.

5. Physics. a substance, as graphite or heavy water, used to slow neutrons to speeds at which they are more efficient in causing fission.

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moderator British  

/ ˈmɒdəˌreɪtə /

noun

1. a person or thing that moderates

2. Presbyterian Church a minister appointed to preside over a Church court, synod, or general assembly

3. a presiding officer at a public or legislative assembly

4. a material, such as heavy water or graphite, used for slowing down neutrons in the cores of nuclear reactors so that they have more chance of inducing nuclear fission

5. an examiner at Oxford or Cambridge Universities in first public examinations

6. (in Britain and New Zealand) one who is responsible for consistency of standards in the grading of some educational assessments

7. a person who monitors the conversations in an on-line chatroom for bad language, inappropriate content, etc

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moderator Scientific  

/ mŏd′ə-rā′tər /

1. A substance, such as graphite, water, or heavy water, placed in a nuclear reactor to slow neutrons down to speeds at which they are more likely to be captured by fissionable components of a fuel (such as uranium-235) and less likely to be absorbed by nonfissionable components of a fuel (such as uranium-238).

2. Also called neutron moderator

3. See also slow neutron

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Other Word Forms

• moderatorial adjective
• moderatorship noun

Etymology

Origin of moderator

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin moderātor, equivalent to moderā ( rī ) to control ( moderate ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

She was scheduled to answer questions from a moderator after delivering the speech.

From The Wall Street Journal

In 2021, he took on the role of the moderator of the Church of Scotland.

From BBC

It remains a place where real people can share their opinions and wisdom—with close oversight by moderators to ensure civil discourse.

From The Wall Street Journal

Suddenly the moderator intervenes to change the subject.

From BBC

The Rev Trevor Gribben held the two posts for 11 years until he became the leader of the church, known as moderator, in June.

From BBC

Related Words

• mediator
• referee