tempering
tempering Lexical Profile
tempering Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A heat-treatment process in metallurgy and glassmaking in which a material is heated to a specific temperature and then cooled to reduce brittleness and increase toughness.
"After quenching the steel blade, the blacksmith began the careful process of tempering to ensure the metal would not shatter under stress."
In confectionery and cooking, the process of heating and cooling chocolate to stabilize its cocoa butter crystals for a glossy finish, or briefly frying whole spices in hot oil or ghee to release their essential aromas.
"Proper tempering gives artisan chocolate bars a smooth sheen and a crisp snap when broken."
The act of moderating, softening, or toning down an extreme quality, feeling, or state.
"The diplomatic agreement required a gradual tempering of rhetoric from both sides of the dispute."
• verb
To act as a neutralizing or counterbalancing force to something extreme or severe (present participle of temper).
"The economist noted that rising housing costs were tempering the region's otherwise strong consumer confidence."
To improve the hardness, elasticity, or consistency of a material such as metal, glass, or chocolate by heating and cooling it (present participle of temper).
"The pastry chef spent the afternoon tempering dark chocolate for the Truffle assortment."
• adjective
Serving to moderate, soften, or counterbalance an extreme quality, emotion, or condition.
"Her pragmatic advice had a tempering effect on the committee's overly ambitious expansion plans."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From the verb 'temper', which entered Old English as 'temprian' via Old French and Latin 'temperare' ('to mix in due proportion, moderate, or regulate').