1. Home
  2. Dictionary
  3. Temper

Definition of Temper in English :

Define Temper in English

Temper meaning in English

Meaning of Temper in English

Pronunciation of Temper in English

Temper pronunciation in English

Pronounce Temper in English

Temper

see synonyms of temper

Noun

1. irritation, pique, temper

a sudden outburst of anger

Example Sentences:
'his temper sparked like damp firewood'

2. humor, humour, mood, temper

a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

Example Sentences:
'whether he praised or cursed me depended on his temper at the time'
'he was in a bad humor'

3. biliousness, irritability, peevishness, pettishness, snappishness, surliness, temper

a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger

Example Sentences:
'his temper was well known to all his employees'

4. temper, toughness

the elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking

Verb

5. anneal, normalize, temper

bring to a desired consistency, texture, or hardness by a process of gradually heating and cooling

Example Sentences:
'temper glass'

6. harden, temper

harden by reheating and cooling in oil

Example Sentences:
'temper steel'

7. temper

adjust the pitch (of pianos)

8. mollify, season, temper

make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate

Example Sentences:
'she tempered her criticism'

9. chasten, moderate, temper

restrain

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Temper

see synonyms of temper
noun
1. 
a frame of mind; mood or humour
a good temper
2. 
a sudden outburst of anger; tantrum
3. 
a tendency to exhibit uncontrolled anger; irritability
4. 
a mental condition of moderation and calm (esp in the phrases keep one's temper, lose one's temper, out of temper)
5. 
the degree of hardness, elasticity, or a similar property of a metal or metal object
verb (transitive)
6. 
to make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate
he tempered his criticism with kindly sympathy
7. 
to strengthen or toughen (a metal or metal article) by heat treatment, as by heating and quenching
8. music
a. 
to adjust the frequency differences between the notes of a scale on (a keyboard instrument) in order to allow modulation into other keys
b. 
to make such an adjustment to the pitches of notes in (a scale)
9.  a rare word for adapt
10.  an archaic word for mix

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Temper

see synonyms of temper
verb transitive
1. 
to make suitable, desirable, or free from excess by mingling with something else; reduce in intensity, esp. by the admixture of some other quality; moderate; assuage; mollify
to temper criticism with reason
2. 
a. 
to bring to the proper texture, consistency, hardness, etc. by mixing with something or treating in some way
to temper paints with oil, to temper steel by heating and sudden cooling, to temper clay by moistening and kneading
b. 
to toughen, as by rigors or trying experiences
3.  Rare
to fit; adapt
4.  Archaic
to mix in proper proportions
5.  Music
to adjust the pitch of (a note) or tune (an instrument) according to some temperament
verb intransitive
6. 
to be or become tempered
noun
7. 
the state of being tempered
; specif.,
a.  Archaic
a properly proportioned mixture
b. 
the state of a metal with regard to the degree of hardness and resilience
8. 
frame of mind; disposition; mood
in a bad temper
9. 
calmness of mind; composure
now only in the phrases lose one's temper and keep one's temper
10. 
a tendency to become angry readily
to have a temper
11. 
anger; rage
to go into a temper
12. 
something used to temper a mixture, etc.
13. 
the trend in thought and feeling (of an era, period, etc.); character
the temper of the times, the modern temper
14.  Archaic
a middle course; mean
15.  Obsolete
character; quality

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Temper

see synonyms of temper
v. tem·pered, tem·per·ing, tem·pers
v.tr.
1. To modify by the addition of a moderating element; moderate: "temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom" (Robert H. Jackson). See Synonyms at moderate.
2. To bring to a desired consistency, texture, hardness, or other physical condition by blending, admixing, or kneading: temper clay; paints that had been tempered with oil.
3. To harden or strengthen (metal or glass) by application of heat or by heating and cooling.
4. To strengthen through experience or hardship; toughen: soldiers who had been tempered by combat.
5. Music To adjust (the pitch of an instrument) to a temperament.
v.intr.
To be or become tempered.
n.
1. A state of mind or emotion; disposition: an even temper.
2. Calmness of mind or emotions; composure: lose one's temper.
3.
a. A tendency to become easily angry or irritable: a quick temper.
b. Anger; rage: a fit of temper.
4. A characteristic general quality; tone: heroes who exemplified the medieval temper; the politicized temper of the 1930s.
5.
a. The condition of being tempered.
b. The degree of hardness and elasticity of a metal, chiefly steel, achieved by tempering.
6. A modifying substance or agent added to something else.
7. Archaic A middle course between extremes; a mean.

The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

WORD OF THE DAY

instauration

FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS

Recent Searches