temper

Noun

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

• a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger
  • his temper was well known to all his employees
    

• a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
  • whether he praised or cursed me depended on his temper at the time
    
  • he was in a bad humor
    

• a sudden outburst of anger
  • his temper sparked like damp firewood
    

Verb

• restrain

• make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate
  • she tempered her criticism
    

• adjust the pitch (of pianos)

• harden by reheating and cooling in oil
  • temper steel
    

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

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  toughness , biliousness , irritability , peevishness , pettishness , snappishness , surliness , mood , humor , humour , pique , irritation , chasten , moderate , season , mollify , harden , anneal , normalize