temper
gb/tˈɛmpɚ/ us/tˈɛmpɚ/
B1
English
~ 2000
türelem, vérmérséklet, önuralom, mérsékel, enyhít, edzettség, edz, megereszt
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
lose/keep [one's] temper
He lost his temper when the waiter spilled coffee on him.
Elvesztette a türelmét, amikor a pincér ráöntötte a kávét.
She has a quick temper and often argues with her colleagues.
Hirtelen haragú, és gyakran vitatkozik a kollégáival.
It's important to keep your temper during negotiations.
His bad temper makes him difficult to work with.
She managed to control her temper despite the provocation.
Learner examples
He lost his temper when he heard the bad news.
Elvesztette a türelmét, amikor meghallotta a rossz hírt.
She has a short temper and gets angry fast.
Rövid a türelme, és hamar dühbe gurul.
Try to keep your temper in class.
He is known for his bad temper.
She can control her temper very well.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'temper' with 'temperature'. They are unrelated in meaning.
Meaning
A person's anger control level
Collocations
bad temper
|lose your temper
|keep your temper
|short temper
|quick temper
Synonyms
disposition (More general about personality, not limited to anger.)
|
mood (Refers to temporary emotional state, not a general tendency.)
Antonyms
calmness (Opposite in that it means a steady and relaxed state.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
How easily or not a person gets angry.
A person's usual state of emotional control, especially their tendency to become angry easily or stay calm.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
temper [something] with [something]
She tempered her criticism with a few kind words.
Néhány kedves szóval enyhítette a bírálatát.
The heat was tempered by a cool breeze.
A hőséget hűvös szellő enyhítette.
He tempered his enthusiasm with caution.
The speech was tempered to avoid offending anyone.
They tempered the spicy sauce with cream.
Learner examples
She tempered her anger with kindness.
Kedvességgel mérsékelte a haragját.
The sun was tempered by clouds.
A nap hevét felhők enyhítették.
He tempered his words to be polite.
They tempered the soup with water.
The teacher tempered his rules with understanding.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'temper' as a verb with 'temporary', which is unrelated.
Meaning
To moderate or soften something
Collocations
temper justice with mercy
|temper criticism with praise
Synonyms
moderate (Similar meaning but more common in formal contexts.)
|
soften (Implies making gentler or less harsh.)
Antonyms
intensify (Means to make something stronger rather than weaker.)
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make something less strong or less extreme.
To make something less extreme, strong, or harsh.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
edzettség
C1
The blade was given a high temper for durability.
A pengét a tartósság érdekében keményre edzették.
Different tools require different tempers of steel.
A különböző szerszámokhoz különböző edzettségű acélra van szükség.
The glass was of a special temper to resist breaking.
They adjusted the temper of the sword for flexibility.
Tempered steel has an ideal balance of hardness and toughness.
Learner examples
The knife has a hard temper.
A kés keményre van edzve.
Steel can have a different temper.
Az acél különböző edzettségű lehet.
They changed the temper of the metal.
Glass can have a strong temper.
The sword has a perfect temper.
Meaning
Hardness/elasticity of treated metal/glass
Collocations
spring temper
|full temper
Synonyms
hardness (General term for resistance to deformation; not specific to heat treatment.)
Antonyms
softness (Opposite in physical hardness.)
Themes
science
|manufacturing
|technology
Definition
How hard or flexible metal or glass is after special heating and cooling.
The degree of hardness and elasticity in metal or glass produced by heating and cooling it in a specific way.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
temper [metal/glass]
The blacksmith tempered the blade after forging it.
A kovács a kovácsolás után megedzette a pengét.
Tempering steel improves its strength and flexibility.
Az acél megeresztése javítja a szilárdságát és a rugalmasságát.
They tempered the glass for safety purposes.
You should temper the chisel before using it on stone.
The sword was tempered for combat use.
Learner examples
The worker tempered the steel.
A munkás megedzette az acélt.
They tempered the glass for windows.
Az ablakokhoz megedzették az üveget.
He tempered the knife blade.
We tempered the sword for battle.
The company tempers all its tools.
Meaning
Heat-treat metal or glass
Collocations
temper steel
|temper glass
Synonyms
harden (General term for making harder; doesn't imply the specific process of tempering.)
Antonyms
anneal (A process that softens metal instead of hardening it.)
Themes
science
|manufacturing
|technology
Definition
To heat and cool metal or glass to make it harder or stronger.
To heat and then cool metal or glass in order to change its hardness and elasticity.
Grammar
Dictionary form
temper
IPA
GB/tˈɛmpɚ/
US/tˈɛmpɚ/
Syllables & stress
tem - per (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tem)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: temper
- Plural: temper, tempers
Verb
- Base: temper
- 3rd Person Singular: tempers
- Present Participle: tempering
- Past: tempered
Word family
Forms
tempers
noun
tempering
verb
tempered
verb
Core family
temperament
noun B2
temperamental
adjective B2
Related words
temperate
adjective B2
temperance
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
intemperate
adjective
Advanced or less common
temperamentally
adverb C1
intemperance
noun
Expressions
keep your temper
1/kˈip jˈʊɹ tˈɛmpɚ/
idiom
Stay calm under provocation
To stay calm and not get angry.
Examples
- Despite the insults, she kept her temper.
- It's hard to keep your temper when people are rude.
lose your temper
1/lˈuz jˈʊɹ tˈɛmpɚ/
idiom
Suddenly get very angry
To suddenly get very angry.
Examples
- He lost his temper when he saw the mess in the kitchen.
- Try not to lose your temper during the meeting.
temper justice with mercy
1/tˈɛmpɚ d͡ʒˈʌstɪs wˈɪθ mˈɚsi/
fixed phrase
formal
Make punishment kinder or softer
To make punishment less strict by showing kindness or forgiveness.
Examples
- The judge tempered justice with mercy when sentencing the young offender.
- Leaders should temper justice with mercy in difficult times.