tempered

1. 1
   verb

   Past tense and past participle of temper. Use it for something that was made softer, calmer or tougher.

   Dad tempered the chocolate before he dipped the strawberries in it.

   The blacksmith tempered the new knife over the fire.

   Note
2. 2
   adjectivein compounds

   Having a certain kind of temper or nature. It is joined to another word, like bad-tempered.

   Our even-tempered dog never barks at strangers.

   My short-tempered neighbor yells whenever a ball lands in his yard.

   Note
3. 3
   adjective

   Made less strong or extreme by other things.

   His happiness was tempered by sadness at leaving his friends.

   She gave a tempered answer, careful not to promise too much.

   Similarmoderate, measured, reasonable, mild, temperate

   Oppositeunbridled, unrestrained, extreme

   Note
4. 4
   adjective

   Used about glass that has been made extra strong in a factory, or the way it is made.

   Our oven door has a window made of tempered glass.

   My new phone came with a tempered glass screen protector.

5. 5
   adjective

   Used about metal, such as steel, that has been through a special finishing process.

   These garden tools are made of tempered steel.

   The chef's knife has a tempered blade that stays sharp for a long time.

   Similarhardened

   Note
6. 6
   adjective

   Used about a way of tuning a keyboard so music in any key sounds right.

   Our piano has a tempered tuning, so every song sounds good on it.

   The church organ was tuned to a tempered scale so the choir could sing in any key.

   Note

Showing meanings only. Show all 6