temper
Americannoun
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a particular state of mind or feelings.
- Synonyms:
- point of view, perspective, outlook, inclination, attitude, humor, frame of mind, cheer
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habit of mind, especially with respect to irritability or patience, outbursts of anger, or the like; disposition.
an even temper.
- Synonyms:
- temperament, spirit, nature, makeup, habit, grain, disposition
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heat of mind or passion, shown in outbursts of anger, resentment, etc.
- Synonyms:
- petulance, irritation, irritability, crossness, annoyance, resentment
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calm disposition or state of mind.
to be out of temper.
- Synonyms:
- composure, equanimity
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a substance added to something to modify its properties or qualities.
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Metallurgy.
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the degree of hardness and strength imparted to a metal, as by quenching, heat treatment, or cold working.
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the percentage of carbon in tool steel.
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the operation of tempering.
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Archaic. a middle course; compromise.
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Obsolete. the constitution or character of a substance.
verb (used with object)
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to moderate or mitigate.
to temper justice with mercy.
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to soften or tone down.
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to bring to a proper, suitable, or desirable state by or as by blending or admixture.
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to moisten, mix, and work up into proper consistency, as clay or mortar.
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Metallurgy. to impart strength or toughness to (steel or cast iron) by heating and cooling.
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to produce internal stresses in (glass) by sudden cooling from low red heat; toughen.
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to tune (a keyboard instrument, as a piano, organ, or harpsichord) so as to make the tones available in different keys or tonalities.
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to modify (color) by mixing with a medium.
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Archaic. to combine or blend in due proportions.
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Archaic. to pacify.
verb (used without object)
noun
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a frame of mind; mood or humour
a good temper
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a sudden outburst of anger; tantrum
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a tendency to exhibit uncontrolled anger; irritability
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a mental condition of moderation and calm (esp in the phrases keep one's temper, lose one's temper, out of temper )
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the degree of hardness, elasticity, or a similar property of a metal or metal object
verb
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to make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate
he tempered his criticism with kindly sympathy
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to strengthen or toughen (a metal or metal article) by heat treatment, as by heating and quenching
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music
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to adjust the frequency differences between the notes of a scale on (a keyboard instrument) in order to allow modulation into other keys
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to make such an adjustment to the pitches of notes in (a scale)
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a rare word for adapt
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an archaic word for mix
Related Words
See disposition. See modify.
Other Word Forms
- nontemperable adjective
- retemper verb (used with object)
- temperability noun
- temperable adjective
- temperer noun
- untemperable adjective
- untempering adjective
Etymology
Origin of temper
before 1000; (v.) Middle English tempren, Old English temprian < Latin temperāre to divide or proportion duly, temper; (noun) Middle English: proportion, derivative of the v.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ben certainly isn’t perfect—we all know he has a nasty temper.
From Literature
I know it’s best to just apologize quickly, as Papa often has a bad temper.
From Literature
"Patience has been a key element in many landmark developments," they write, "and points to the importance of tempering timeline expectations in quantum technologies."
From Science Daily
The structure of the deal might have something to do with the tempered, albeit enthusiastic, reception.
From Barron's
The only costumed characters are actors playing costumed characters; the only villains, apart from the bureaucracy that seeks to bring him in, are Simon’s own self-doubt and temper.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
