Dictionary definition · temper
noun
- a sudden outburst of anger"his temper sparked like damp firewood"
- a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling"whether he praised or cursed me depended on his temper at the time"
- a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger"his temper was well known to all his employees"
- the elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking
verb
- bring to a desired consistency, texture, or hardness by a process of gradually heating and cooling"temper glass"
- harden by reheating and cooling in oil"temper steel"
- adjust the pitch (of pianos)
- make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else"she tempered her criticism"
- change by restraining or moderating
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).