- temper
- tem|per1 [ˈtempə US -ər] n1.) [U and C]a tendency to become angry suddenly or easily▪ That temper of hers will get her into trouble one of these days.▪ According to Nathan, Robin has quite a temper .▪ Theo needs to learn to control his temper .quick/bad/fiery etc temper▪ Be careful, he's got a pretty violent temper.tempers flare also tempers become frayedBrE (=people become angry)▪ Mason's temper flared when he spotted his girlfriend kissing another man.2.) lose your temperto suddenly become very angry so that you cannot control yourself▪ I've never seen Vic lose his temper.3.) [singular, U]the way you are feeling at a particular time, especially when you are feeling angry for a short timein a temper▪ It's no use talking to him when he's in a temper.▪ Pete hit his brother in a fit of temper .be in a bad/foul temper(=to be angry)▪ Watch out - she's been in a foul temper all day.fly into a temper▪ Her boss would fly into a temper if a project wasn't done on time.4.) keep your temperto stay calm when it would be easy to get angry▪ I was finding it increasingly difficult to keep my temper.5.) good-tempered/foul-tempered/quick-tempered etchaving a good, bad temper etc▪ Minnie was always good-tempered and agreeable.6.) [singular] formalthe general attitude that people have in a particular place at one timetemper of▪ the temper of life in Renaissance Italytemper 2temper2 v [T][Date: 900-1000; : Latin; Origin: temperare 'to divide up properly, mix, keep within proper limits, temper']1.) formal to make something less severe or extremetemper sth with/by sth▪ The heat in this coastal town is tempered by cool sea breezes.2.) to make metal as hard as is needed by heating it and then putting it in cold water▪ tempered steel
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.