Link Centre Dictionary

moderate

mo·de·rate

UK/ˈmɒdəɹeɪt/ US/ˈmɑdəɹeɪt/ uncommon us
adjective (3) verb (6) noun (1)

adjective

1.

being within reasonable or average limits; not excessive or extreme

  • “moderate prices”
  • “a moderate income”
  • “a moderate fine”
  • “moderate demands”
  • “a moderate estimate”
  • “a moderate eater”
  • “moderate success”
  • “a kitchen of moderate size”
  • “the X-ray showed moderate enlargement of the heart”
Antonyms
Similar
2.

not extreme

  • “a moderate penalty”
  • “temperate in his response to criticism”
Synonyms
Similar
3.

marked by avoidance of extravagance or extremes

  • “moderate in his demands”
  • “restrained in his response”
Synonyms
Similar

verb

1.

preside over

  • “John moderated the discussion”
Synonyms
2.

make less fast or intense

  • “moderate your speed”
3.

lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits

  • “moderate your alcohol intake”
  • “hold your tongue”
  • “hold your temper”
  • “control your anger”
Synonyms
4.

make less severe or harsh

  • “He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears”
Synonyms
5.

make less strong or intense; soften

  • “Tone down that aggressive letter”
  • “The author finally tamed some of his potentially offensive statements”
Synonyms
6.

noun

1.

Origin

From Middle English moderat(e) (“moderate, temperate”), borrowed from Latin moderātus, perfect active participle of moderor (“to regulate, to restrain, to moderate”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from moder-, modes-, a stem appearing also in modestus (“moderate, discreet, modest”), from modus (“a measure”); see mode and modest. Doublet of moderato. Displaced native Old English ġemetlīċ (“moderate”) and metegian (“to moderate”). Cognate with French modéré.

Phrases

  • moderate breeze

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

See also

Parts

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.