temper
TEHM-puh
Temper (noun) means a person's tendency to become angry, or a fit of anger itself. Example: “He has a bad temper when things don't go his way.”
noun
1
A person's tendency to become angry, or a fit of anger itself.
"He has a bad temper when things don't go his way."
"She lost her temper after being kept waiting for an hour."
"The little girl threw her toys across the room in a fit of temper."
2
A person's general mood or state of mind.
"He was in an unusually cheerful temper that morning."
verb
1
To moderate or soften something, making it less extreme.
"She tempered her criticism with a few kind words."
"His optimism was tempered by years of setbacks."
"The cook tempered the sharp lemon flavour with a spoonful of honey."
2
To toughen metal or glass by controlled heating and cooling.
"Blacksmiths temper steel to make it strong but not brittle."
"Glassmakers temper the glass so it will not shatter easily."
"The smith tempered the blade by heating it slowly and then cooling it."
How to use temper
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither your tendency to get angry (a "bad temper"), your general mood, or — as a verb — to soften or toughen something.
Common mistake
"Loose temper" is a common misspelling — it should be "lose your temper."
Common pairings
lose your temper
a quick temper
temper the blow
tempered steel
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Word forms
- Plural
- tempers
- Third person singular
- tempers
- Past tense
- tempered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He has a bad _____ when things don't go his way.
Etymology
From Old English temprian, borrowed from Latin temperō, "to mix in due proportion, moderate." Related to "temperature" and "temporal."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for temper
See all rhymes for temper →Frequently asked questions
What does “temper” mean?
The word “temper” means a person's tendency to become angry, or a fit of anger itself. In plain terms, either your tendency to get angry (a "bad temper"), your general mood, or — as a verb — to soften or toughen something.
How do you pronounce “temper”?
“Temper” is pronounced TEHM-puh (/ˈtɛmpɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “temper” in a sentence?
Here is “temper” used in a sentence: “He has a bad temper when things don't go his way.”
What part of speech is “temper”?
Depending on how it is used, “temper” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “temper” come from?
The word “temper” comes from Latin. From Old English temprian, borrowed from Latin temperō, "to mix in due proportion, moderate." Related to "temperature" and "temporal.".
Is “temper” a common word?
“Temper” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “temper” have?
“Temper” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person's tendency to become angry, or a fit of anger itself.
What is the difference between "temper" and "anger"?
Temper refers to a person's general tendency to become angry or to a specific outburst of anger, while anger itself is the emotion. You might say someone "has a temper" as a trait, or "lost their temper" to describe a single angry episode.
What does it mean to "temper" something like advice or criticism?
To temper something means to moderate or soften it so it becomes less extreme or harsh, such as tempering criticism with encouragement. This figurative sense comes from the technical meaning of controlling heat to adjust the strength of metal or glass.
What is the difference between tempering metal and tempering glass?
Both processes use controlled heating and cooling to toughen the material, but tempered glass is typically heated then rapidly cooled to make it shatter-resistant, while tempered metal is heated and cooled in stages to adjust hardness and flexibility. In everyday use, "temper" simply describes this general toughening technique.
