moderate

comparative more moderate · superlative most moderate

1. Not excessive; acting in moderation.

   moderate language

   3 more examples

   a moderate Calvinist

   travelling at a moderate speed

   A number of moderate members managed […] to obtain a majority in a thin house.

   1731, Jonathan Swift, The Presbyterians Plea of Merit

2. medicineMore than mild but less than severe.
3. Mediocre.
4. Average or middling, for example in price.
5. Not violent or rigorous; temperate; mild; gentle.

   a moderate winter

   1 more example

   These are called the Islands of the Blest; rains fall there seldom, and in moderate showers, but for the most part they have gentle breezes, bringing along with them soft dews

   1859, Arthur Hugh Clough, Life of Sertorius

6. USgovernmentHaving an intermediate position between liberal and conservative.

   Synonyms: middle-of-the-road

plural moderates

1. One who holds an intermediate position between extremes, as in politics.

   The moderates are the natural advocates of ecumenism against the fanatics of their churches.

   2 more examples

   While the moderates usually propose political compromise, it's often only achieved when the extremists allow them so

   On the other side, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch (a moderate) has to contend with the hardliners on his executive, whose intentions go way beyond trying to sort out their members' terms and conditions.

   2022 June 29, Christian Wolmar, “Strike settlement held back by ministers”, in RAIL, number 960, page 43

2. historicalChristianityOne of a party in Scottish Church history dominant in the 18th century, lax in doctrine and discipline, but intolerant of evangelicalism and popular rights. It caused the secessions of 1733 and 1761, and its final resultant was the Disruption of 1843.

present singular third person moderates · participle present moderating · participle past moderated · past moderated

1. transitiveTo reduce the excessiveness of (something).

   to moderate rage, action, desires, etc.

   2 more examples

   By its astringent Quality, it moderates the relaxing quality of warm Water.

   1731, John Arbuthnot, An Essay Concerning the Nature of Aliments, and the Choice of Them, According to the Different Constitutions of Human Bodies. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson […], →OCLC

   This leaves two strategies to increase the current in a positron beam. First is to provide a stronger positron source and second is to develop a more efficient method to moderate the source positrons into a monoenergetic beam.

   2000, Paul G. Coleman, Positron Beams and Their Applications, page 309

   Synonyms: accoy, mitigate, soften, temper, temperate, qualify

2. intransitiveTo become less excessive.

   He used to be an extremist but moderated later in life.

   Synonyms: cool, settle down, soften, ease off

3. transitiveTo preside over (something) as a moderator.

   to moderate a synod

   Synonyms: arbitrate, chair

4. intransitiveTo act as a moderator; to assist in bringing to compromise.

   We need more users to volunteer to moderate the comment section of our forum.

5. transitivenatural sciencesTo supply with a moderator (substance that decreases the speed of neutrons in a nuclear reactor and hence increases likelihood of fission).

   a graphite-moderated reactor