Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Moderating or making more temperate: The adjective "tempering" describes the act of modifying something to make it less extreme, more balanced, or more suitable.

2. Noun:

   • The process of hardening something by heat treatment: As a noun, "tempering" refers specifically to a controlled process of heating and cooling, typically applied to metals or glass, to achieve desired properties like increased toughness and reduced brittleness.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Her tempering influence calmed the heated debate. (Her moderating influence made the intense debate more calm and reasonable.)
  • The judge's tempering remarks provided a balanced perspective. (The judge's moderating remarks offered a more measured point of view.)

• Noun:

  • The sword's strength comes from a careful tempering process. (The sword's strength results from a precise heat treatment hardening process.)
  • Tempering is essential after quenching steel to relieve internal stresses. (The heat treatment process is necessary after rapid cooling to reduce internal tensions in the steel.)

Advanced Usage

• "Tempering of expectations": The act of making expectations more realistic or moderate.
  • The manager was tempering expectations for the project's immediate success. (The manager was making the team's hopes for quick success more realistic.)

Variants and Related Words

• Temper (verb): To moderate, soften, or harden by heat treatment.

  • Temper your enthusiasm with a dose of practicality. (Moderate your excitement by considering practical aspects.)
  • The blacksmith will temper the blade in the forge. (The blacksmith will harden the blade using heat treatment.)

• Temper (noun): A person's state of mind or anger.

  • He has a quick temper. (He becomes angry easily.)

• Tempered (adjective): Made less extreme or hardened by a process.

  • She gave a tempered response to the criticism. (She gave a moderate, controlled response.)
  • This is made from tempered glass. (This is made from glass that has been heat-treated for strength.)

Synonyms

• Adjective (moderating): Moderating, mitigating, softening, soothing.
• Noun (hardening process): Annealing, hardening, heat treatment, toughening.

Related Phrases

• Temper justice with mercy: To make a punishment or judgment less severe by showing kindness.
  • The judge chose to temper justice with mercy due to the defendant's circumstances. (The judge decided to make the legal punishment less harsh by showing compassion.)

Adjective

1. moderating by making more temperate

Noun

1. hardening something by heat treatment