temper

TEM-per/ˈtɛmpɚ/UKTEM-puh/ˈtɛmpə/

21 meanings of temper

1
angry naturenounusually singular
A habit of getting angry easily.
My uncle has a terrible temper, so don't argue with him.
She has a temper, but she calms down fast.
Note
2
nouncountable or uncountable
The ability to stay calm instead of getting angry.
Dad lost his temper when the TV broke again.
Try to keep your temper, even if he's rude to you.
Similarcomposure, cool, calm, equanimity
Note
3
angry outburstnouncountable or uncountable
Anger, or a short time of being very angry.
The little boy flew into a temper when we took his toy away.
Don't talk to her while she's in a temper.
Similarrage, fury, anger, huff, tantrum
Note
4
tone downverbtransitive
To make something less strong, or to keep it under control.
Please temper your voice in the library.
She tempers her spending when money is tight.
Similarmoderate, soften, curb, restrain, mitigate
Oppositeintensify
Note
5
moodnounusually singular
How someone feels at a certain time, their mood.
Grandpa is in a good temper today because his team won.
Wait until the boss is in a better temper before you ask.
Similarmood, humor
Note
6
characternouncountable
The way a person usually feels and acts, such as calm or easily upset.
My sister has a sweet temper and rarely complains.
Our dog has a calm temper, so he's good with kids.
Similartemperament, disposition, nature, character
Note
7
toughen metalverbtransitive
To make metal or another material stronger or tougher by heating it.
Blacksmiths temper their tools so they don't snap.
This glass has been tempered, so it won't break easily.
Similartoughen, strengthen
Note
8
slow warmingverbtransitive
To slowly warm or cool food like eggs or chocolate so it stays smooth.
Temper the eggs by stirring in a little hot milk first.
She tempered the chocolate so it would be shiny.
Note
9
metal hardnessnouncountable or uncountable
How hard or tough a metal is after it has been heated or cooled.
This old knife has lost its temper and bends too easily.
A good sword needs just the right temper.
Similarhardness
Note
10
mix with waterverbtransitive
To mix clay or plaster with water until it is just right to use.
The potter tempered the clay before shaping the bowl.
Temper the plaster in small amounts so it doesn't dry too fast.
Similarmix

11
fry spicesverbtransitive
In South Asian cooking, to fry spices in oil or ghee to bring out their flavor.
Temper the mustard seeds in hot oil until they pop.
My mom tempers cumin and garlic for the dal.
12
blend inverbarchaic
To mix things in the right amounts, or to make something softer or milder by adding something else.
The cook tempered the strong wine with water.
But thy fire / Shall be more tempered, and thy hope far higher.
1812, Lord Byron, Childe Harold’s PilgrimageHere, tempered means softened or eased.
Note
13
tune (music)verbtransitive
In music, to adjust the notes of a scale so they fit the scale people actually play.
The tuner tempered the piano so it sounds good in every key.
Organ builders must temper the notes before the organ can be played.
Note
14
middle waynounusually singular
A middle point between two opposite things.
The perfect lawgiver is a just temper between the mere man of theory, who can see nothing but general principles, and the mere man of business, who can see nothing but particular circumstances.
1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the SecondHere, temper means a balance or middle point between two extremes.
Similarbalance, mean, medium
15
mixturenoununcountable
How a mixture turns out, depending on what is mixed into it and in what amounts.
The builder felt the temper of the mortar to see if it was ready.
If you add too much sand, the temper of the mix will be wrong.
Similarconsistency
Note
16
added to claynoununcountable
Sand or other material mixed into clay so it does not shrink and crack when it dries or is baked.
The potter mixed sand into the clay as temper.
Without enough temper, the pots cracked in the fire.
Note
17
put togetherverbarchaic
To put things together in the right amounts to make something.
Note
18
sugar makingnounhistoricaluncountable
Lime mixed with water, or something like it, once used to clean sugar cane juice.
The workers added temper to the cane juice to clean it.
The mill kept barrels of temper next to the boiling pans.
Note
19
body makeupnounobsoleteuncountable
The makeup of a person's body, once believed to depend on the mix of four body fluids.
Note
20
ruleverbobsolete
To rule or manage something.
With which the damned ghosts he governeth, / And furies rules, and Tartare tempereth.
1591, “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale.”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie.Here, tempereth means governs or rules.
Note
21
adaptverbobsolete
To make something fit or suit something else.
You have to temper your plans to the weather.
The cook tempered the meal to each guest's taste.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of temper apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From a Latin verb meaning "to moderate" or "to mix in the right amounts".