moderator

mod·er·a·tor

noun \ˈmä-də-ˌrā-tər\

Definition of MODERATOR

1

: one who arbitrates : mediator

2

: one who presides over an assembly, meeting, or discussion: as

a : the presiding officer of a Presbyterian governing body

b : the nonpartisan presiding officer of a town meeting

c : the chairman of a discussion group

3

: a substance (as graphite) used for slowing neutrons in a nuclear reactor

— mod·er·a·tor·ship \-ˌship\ noun

Examples of MODERATOR

1. The moderator allowed audience members to ask the governor questions.
2. She acts as the moderator in our office meetings.

First Known Use of MODERATOR

circa 1560

Related to MODERATOR

Synonyms

chairman, chairperson, chair, president, presider, prolocutor, speaker

Related Words

chairwoman; cochair, cochairman, cochairperson, cochairwoman, copresident

Rhymes with MODERATOR

abdicator, abnegator, activator, actuator, adulator, advocator, agitator, alligator, allocator, animator, annotator, applicator, arbitrator, aspirator, aviator, brachiator, buccinator, calculator, calibrator, captivator, carburetor, castigator, circulator, commentator, commutator, compensator, compurgator, concentrator, confiscator, congregator, consecrator, consummator, contemplator, corporator, correlator, cultivator, decorator, defalcator, delegator, demonstrator, denigrator, depredator, desecrater, designator, detonator, deviator, dissipater, dominator, dura mater, educator, elevator, emulator, escalator, estimator, excavator, explicator, expurgator, extirpator, fabricator, fascinator, figure skater, flocculator, formulator, fornicator, fractionator, fumigator, generator, gladiator, hesitater, hibernator, imitator, immolator, impregnator, incubator, indicator, infiltrator, in-line skater, innovator, inhalator, inspirator, instigator, insulator, integrator, lacrimator, liberator, liquidator, literator, lubricator, macerator, masticator, mediator, mitigator, modulator, motivator, mutilator, navigator, nomenclator, nominator, numerator, obturator, operator, orchestrator, oscillator, peculator, percolator, perforator, perpetrator, pia mater, pollinator, postulator, procreator, procurator, promulgator, propagator, punctuator, radiator, re-creator, remonstrator, renovator, resonator, respirator, revelator, roller skater, rubricator, rusticator, salivator, second-rater, selling-plater, separator, simulator, stimulator, subjugator, Sunset Crater, syncopator, syndicator, tabulator, terminator, vaccinator, vacillator, valuator, venerator, ventilator, vindicator, violator, vitiator

mod·er·a·tor

noun \ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt-ər\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of MODERATOR

: a substance (as graphite, deuterium in heavy water, or beryllium) used for slowing down neutrons in a nuclear reactor