temper color: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Technical for material sense; slightly formal for mood sense.
Quick answer
What does “temper color” mean?
a person's state of mind, especially relating to anger or calmness.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a person's state of mind, especially relating to anger or calmness; also, to modify or moderate the properties of a material (particularly metal or clay) through heating and cooling.
In metalwork/art, 'temper' refers to the process of hardening and strengthening material. Metaphorically, it describes moderating or balancing an extreme quality, or the characteristic mood of a person or period.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use both senses similarly. 'Temper tantrum' is slightly more common in AmE. The verb sense for metal is technical in both.
Connotations
Similar connotations: a 'bad temper' implies irritability; 'to lose one's temper' is a common phrase. 'Even-tempered' is positive.
Frequency
The mood sense is moderately frequent in both. The material/technical sense is low-frequency outside specific fields.
Grammar
How to Use “temper color” in a Sentence
[verb] temper [noun] (with [noun])[adjective]-temperedhave a [adjective] tempertemper [emotion/quality]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “temper color” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- His quick temper was legendary in the office.
- She struggled to keep her temper during the lengthy debate.
- The general temper of the meeting was one of cautious optimism.
American English
- He has a real temper when he's behind the wheel.
- She flew into a temper after seeing the mess.
- The temper of the nation was restless.
verb
British English
- The blacksmith will temper the steel to make it less brittle.
- His criticism was tempered with genuine concern.
- We must temper our enthusiasm with practical considerations.
American English
- The glass is tempered for safety and strength.
- Her idealism was tempered by experience.
- Temper your expectations for the first draft.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"We must temper our sales forecasts with realistic market data."
Academic
"The historian discussed the revolutionary temper of the 1790s."
Everyday
"He's got a really short temper when he's hungry."
Technical
"The blade was tempered at 450°C to achieve the desired hardness."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “temper color”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “temper color”
- Using 'temper' as a direct synonym for 'personality' (it's more specific to anger/calm). Confusing 'temper' (verb) with 'tamper' (to interfere). Incorrect: *'She has a good temper' (usually describes negative state; use 'even-tempered').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but as a noun describing a person's habitual state, it often implies a tendency to anger (bad/short temper). Positive states use compounds like 'even-tempered' or 'sweet-tempered'. The verb is neutral.
'Temper' is a more permanent character trait related to anger/patience. 'Mood' is a temporary emotional state. Someone with a bad 'temper' is often irritable; a bad 'mood' is a temporary feeling.
Yes, but not directly for the person. You temper *something* (an emotion, a statement) by making it less extreme. E.g., 'temper your joy' means to moderate it.
An uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically associated with young children but can be used humorously or critically for adults.
a person's state of mind, especially relating to anger or calmness.
Temper color is usually formal/technical for material sense; slightly formal for mood sense. in register.
Temper color: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɛmpə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɛmpər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “lose one's temper”
- “fly into a temper”
- “a fit of temper”
- “temper justice with mercy”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of TEMPER as both your mood's TEMPERature (hot or cold) and making metal TOUGHER (tempering).
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER IS HEAT (hot temper, boiling over); MODERATION IS TEMPERING (as in metalwork).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'to temper' in a metallurgical context?