1. (

• annealing ,
• tempering

) hardening something by heat treatment ;

1. (

• anneal ,
• temper ,
• normalize ,

) bring to a desired consistency, texture, or hardness by a process of gradually heating and cooling; "temper glass" ;

2. (

• temper ,
• harden ,

) harden by reheating and cooling in oil; "temper steel" ;

3. (

• temper ,

) adjust the pitch (of pianos) ;

4. (

• temper ,
• season ,
• mollify ,
• moderate ,

) make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; "she tempered her criticism" ;

5. (

• chasten ,
• temper ,

) change by restraining or moderating ;

1. (

• tempering

) moderating by making more temperate ;