damper

[ dam-per ]

/ ˈdæm pər /

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See synonyms for damper on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person or thing that damps or depresses: His glum mood put a damper on their party.

a movable plate for regulating the draft in a stove, furnace, etc.

Music.

a device in stringed keyboard instruments to deaden the vibration of the strings.
the mute of a brass instrument, as a horn.

Electricity. an attachment to keep the indicator of a measuring instrument from oscillating excessively, as a set of vanes in a fluid or a short-circuited winding in a magnetic field.

Machinery. a shock absorber.

Australian.

a round, flat cake made of flour and water, and cooked over a campfire.
the dough for such cakes.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of damper

First recorded in 1740–50; damp + -er¹

Words nearby damper

damp, damp box, dampcourse, damp-dry, dampen, damper, damper pedal, Dampier, damping, damping-off, damp-mop

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use damper in a sentence

Many workers are being granted increasing flexibility to work from home, which will continue to put a damper on future revenue.
Amazon will help fund 1,000 affordable housing units near Metro stations|Teo Armus, Justin George|June 16, 2021|Washington Post
Any periods of downward motion put a damper on cloud cover production, allowing one to discern the atmospheric waves radiating outward.
Satellites capture dozens of explosive eruptions from La Soufrière volcano on St. Vincent island|Matthew Cappucci|April 12, 2021|Washington Post
With the pandemic putting a damper on public transit, the automotive industry continued to fare well while other verticals may have seen larger sales dips.
Microsoft Advertising announces Automotive Ads open beta in the US and UK|Carolyn Lyden|March 31, 2021|Search Engine Land
It doesn’t have a whoosh of air or a physical damper rubbing on the wheel to make annoying sounds as the pedaling gets tougher.
NordicTrack’s connected workout bike puts the focus on competing against yourself|Stan Horaczek|October 15, 2020|Popular-Science

Kitchell concluded, however, that if one wants to minimize damage in the unlikely event of a rare 975-year quake, earthquake dampers should be installed at a projected multimillion-dollar cost.
Flaws and Assumptions Render 101 Ash St. Assessment Meaningless|Sandor Shapery|September 10, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Changes in the level of subsidies and feed-in tariffs can put a damper on activity.
It’s Always Sunny In England|The Daily Beast|September 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Translation: the weather put a big damper on construction activity.
The U.S. Economy Had a Hiccup, Not a Heart Attack, This Year|Daniel Gross|May 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If anything, the idea of Kristen Stewart, expert wet blanket, only got even damper.
How Jennifer Lawrence Took Over Hollywood. (It’s Not Just Because of Her Charm.)|Kevin Fallon|December 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The rain here in Tampa, though not yet at tropical-storm levels, has put a damper on the now delayed convention.
Romney: Personality Isn’t Everything|Howard Kurtz|August 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Leno said he felt the same as he try to put a damper on any such talk at a post-roast press conference.
Jay Leno Wins Hasty Pudding Man of the Year Award|Samuel P. Jacobs|February 4, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Just as the Admiral was going, Ward (of the Intelligence) crossed over with a nasty little damper.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
It was such a damper as to be most mortifying to an enthusiastic girl, and she drew into herself in a moment.
The Daisy Chain|Charlotte Yonge
His friend promised to look after mother and me, but somehow the philanthropist put a damper on the promise.
Ways of War and Peace|Delia Austrian
The passageway was growing damper; water trickled down the walls and gathered in fetid pools on the floor.
Star Born|Andre Norton
A damper seemed to have been placed on all their spirits, and the flow of conversation was sluggish and dull.
The Mysteries of Montreal|Charlotte Fuhrer

British Dictionary definitions for damper

damper

/ (ˈdæmpə) /

noun

a person, event, or circumstance that depresses or discourages

put a damper on to produce a depressing or inhibiting effect onthe bad news put a damper on the party

a movable plate to regulate the draught in a stove or furnace flue

a device to reduce electronic, mechanical, acoustic, or aerodynamic oscillations in a system

music the pad in a piano or harpsichord that deadens the vibration of each string as its key is released

mainly Australian and NZ any of various unleavened loaves and scones, typically cooked on an open fire

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with damper

damper

see put a damper on.

damper

Origin of damper

Words nearby damper

Words related to damper

How to use damper in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for damper

Other Idioms and Phrases with damper