damper

noun

damp·​er ˈdam-pər How to pronounce damper (audio)
1
: a dulling or deadening influence
put a damper on the celebration
2
: a device that damps: such as
a
: a valve or plate (as in the flue of a furnace) for regulating the draft
b
: a small felted block to stop the vibration of a piano string
c
chiefly British : shock absorber
3
Australia : a simple usually unleavened bread of a kind made originally in the Australian bush

Examples of damper in a Sentence

the pianist used the damper pedal on the piano for the quiet passages
Recent Examples on the Web This body of water has long been considered a promising spot for hosting life, but a new study puts a bit of a damper on that idea. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 The car started life as a Carrera 4 before Theon swapped on widebody carbon-fiber panels, added five-stage adaptive dampers from TracTive, bolted on an intake plenum based on a 997 GT3 and used a dual-mass flywheel to mate the engine to the gearbox. Michael Van Runkle, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 On a fast run through Palos Verdes, Singer’s suspension setup is not too firm for a comfortable stint on the 110 freeway, but the dampers allow just the right amount of body roll while hauling through corners. Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 21 Feb. 2024 Cruel: Lions 34-31 loss to 49ers puts damper on otherwise great year The Lions set an NFL record for fourth down attempts (41) in 2021 and are 65 of 123 overall (52.8%) in Campbell's three seasons as coach. Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 29 Jan. 2024 Even though the Pioneers lost 62-52 Friday before a big crowd that included Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley to a Phoenix Sunnyslope team that has a great chance at winning the Open State basketball championship, that didn't damper spirits. Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 13 Jan. 2024 Despite its own increasingly aggressive military posture in recent years, China may prove to be a damper on any North Korean military adventurism. Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2024 The Daisy Wheel top and lower damper allow for precise control of the inside temperature. Linda Gassenheimer, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 But by then, L.A.’s controversial new mansion tax and high interest rates had already put a big damper on the market. James McClain, Robb Report, 5 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'damper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of damper was in 1707

Dictionary Entries Near damper

Cite this Entry

“Damper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/damper. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

damper

noun
damp·​er ˈdam-pər How to pronounce damper (audio)
: one that damps : as
a
: a valve or plate (as in the flue of a furnace) for regulating the draft
b
: a device (as one of the felt-covered pieces of wood in a piano) used to deaden vibrations or oscillations
c
: a dulling or deadening influence
put a damper on the celebration

More from Merriam-Webster on damper

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