TEMPERING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tempering mean? 

• TEMPERING (noun)
  The noun TEMPERING has 1 sense:

1. hardening something by heat treatment

  Familiarity information: TEMPERING used as a noun is very rare.

• TEMPERING (adjective)
  The adjective TEMPERING has 1 sense:

1. moderating by making more temperate

  Familiarity information: TEMPERING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TEMPERING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hardening something by heat treatment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

annealing; tempering

Hypernyms ("tempering" is a kind of...):

hardening (the act of making something harder (firmer or tighter or more compact))

Derivation:

temper (harden by reheating and cooling in oil)

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

• TEMPERING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Moderating by making more temperate

Similar:

moderating (lessening in intensity or strength)

 Context examples 

She went so far as to imagine Martin proposing, herself putting the words into his mouth; and she rehearsed her refusal, tempering it with kindness and exhorting him to true and noble manhood.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)