tempering
nounUK /ˈtɛmpərɪŋ/
US /ˈtɛmpərɪŋ/
Tempering is when you heat and cool something, like chocolate or metal, to make it just right.
The chocolatier spent hours tempering the chocolate so it would be shiny and snap when broken.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The act of making something less extreme or severe.
The tempering of his harsh words made the criticism easier to accept.
3. In music, the slight adjustment of tuning so instruments can play in all keys.
Equal tempering lets a piano sound in tune across every key.
4. The process of mixing clay with water and other materials to make it the right consistency for pottery.
Tempering the clay with sand helped the pot survive the heat of the kiln.