moderate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person who takes a position in the political center
    centrist; moderationist; middle of the roader.
  2. verb preside over
    chair; lead.
    • John moderated the discussion
  3. verb make less fast or intense
    • moderate your speed
  4. verb lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
    control; hold in; curb; contain; hold; check.
    • moderate your alcohol intake
    • hold your tongue
    • hold your temper
    • control your anger
  5. verb make less severe or harsh
    mince; soften.
    • He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears
  6. verb make less strong or intense; soften
    tone down; tame.
    • Tone down that aggressive letter
    • The author finally tamed some of his potentially offensive statements
  7. verb restrain
    chasten; temper.
  8. adjective 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
  9. adjective satellite not extreme
    temperate.
    • a moderate penalty
    • temperate in his response to criticism
  10. adjective satellite marked by avoidance of extravagance or extremes
    restrained.
    • moderate in his demands
    • restrained in his response

WordNet

Mod"er*ate adjective
Etymology
L. moderatus, p.p. of moderate, moderati, to moderate, regulate, control, fr. modus measure. See Mode.
Definitions
  1. Kept within due bounds; observing reasonable limits; not excessive, extreme, violent, or rigorous; limited; restrained; as: (a) Limited in quantity; sparing; temperate; frugal; as, moderate in eating or drinking; a moderate table. (b) Limited in degree of activity, energy, or excitement; reasonable; calm; slow; as, moderate language; moderate endeavors. (c) Not extreme in opinion, in partisanship, and the like; as, a moderate Calvinist.
    A number of moderate members managed ... to obtain a majority in a thin house. Swift.
    (d) Not violent or rigorous; temperate; mild; gentle; as, a moderate winter. "Moderate showers." Walter. (e) Limited as to degree of progress; as, to travel at moderate speed. (f) Limited as to the degree in which a quality, principle, or faculty appears; as, an infusion of moderate strength; a man of moderate abilities. (g) Limited in scope or effects; as, a reformation of a moderate kind. Hooker.
Mod"er*ate noun
Definitions
  1. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a party in the Church of Scotland in the 18th century, and part of the 19th, professing moderation in matters of church government, in discipline, and in doctrine.
Mod"er*ate transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Moderated ; present participle & verbal noun Moderating
Definitions
  1. To restrain from excess of any kind; to reduce from a state of violence, intensity, or excess; to keep within bounds; to make temperate; to lessen; to allay; to repress; to temper; to qualify; as, to moderate rage, action, desires, etc.; to moderate heat or wind.
    By its astringent quality, it moderates the relaxing quality of warm water. Arbuthnot.
    To moderate stiff minds disposed to strive. Spenser.
  2. To preside over, direct, or regulate, as a public meeting; as, to moderate a synod.
Mod"er*ate intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To become less violent, severe, rigorous, or intense; as, the wind has moderated.
  2. To preside as a moderator.
    Dr. Barlow [was] engaged ... to moderate for him in the divinity disputation. Bp. Barlow's Remains (1693).

Webster 1913