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Dictionary Definition

temperate adj

1 (of weather or climate) free from extremes; mild; or characteristic of such weather or climate; "a temperate region"; "the temperate zones"; "temperate plants" [ant: intemperate]

2 not extreme in behavior; "temperate in his habits"; "a temperate response to an insult"; "temperate in his eating and drinking" [ant: intemperate]

3 not extreme; "a moderate penalty"; "temperate in his response to criticism" [syn: moderate]

User Contributed Dictionary

English

Etymology

temperatus, past participle of temperare. See Temper.

Pronunciation

Adjective

temperate

Moderate; not excessive; as, temperate heat; a temperate climate.
Not marked with passion; not violent; cool; calm; as, temperate language.
- She is not hot, but temperate as the morn. Shakespeare
- That sober freedom out of which there springs Our loyal passion for our temperate kings. Tennyson.
Moderate in the indulgence of the natural appetites or passions; as, temperate in eating and drinking.
- Be sober and temperate, and you will be healthy. Franklin.
Proceeding from temperance.
- The temperate sleeps, and spirits light as air. Pope.

Derived terms

temperate zone, that part of the earth which lies between either tropic and the corresponding polar circle; -- so called because the heat is less than in the torrid zone, and the cold less than in the frigid zones.

Synonyms

Translations

moderate; not excessive heat, climate

Finnish: kohtuullinen, lauhkea, maltillinen
Hungarian: mérsékelt

not marked with passion

Finnish: lauhkea, kohtuullinen, hillitty
Hungarian: higgadt

moderate in the indulgence of the natural appetites or passions

Finnish: kohtuullinen, hillitty
Hungarian: mértéktartó

proceeding from temperance

ttbc French: tempéré

Verb

temperate

To render temperate; to moderate; to soften; to temper.
- It inflames temperance, and temperates wrath. Marston.

Translations

(obsolete) to render temperate

Chinese: 溫和的

References

1913}}

Italian

Verb

temperate

Extensive Definition

In geography, temperate latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally mild, rather than extreme hot or cold. However, a temperate climate can have very unpredictable weather. In regions traditionally considered tropical, localities at high altitudes (e.g. parts of the Andes) may have a temperate climate. The north temperate zone extends from the Tropic of Cancer (at about 23.5 degrees north latitude) to the Arctic Circle (at approximately 66.6 degrees north latitude). The south temperate zone extends from the Tropic of Capricorn (at approximately 23.5 degrees south latitude,) to the Antarctic Circle (at approximately 66.5 degrees south latitude.)

Within these borders there are many climate types, which are generally grouped into two categories: maritime and continental.

The maritime climate is affected by the oceans, which help to sustain somewhat stable temperatures throughout the year. In temperate zones the prevailing winds are from the west, thus the western edge of temperate continents most commonly experience this maritime climate. Such regions include Western Europe, and western North America at latitudes between 40° and 60° north (65°N in Europe).

The continental climate is usually situated inland, with warmer summers and colder winters. Heat loss and reception are aided by extensive land mass. In North America, the Rocky Mountains act as a climate barrier to the maritime air blowing from the west, creating a continental climate to the east. In Europe, the maritime climate is able to stabilize inland temperature, because the major mountain range - the Alps - is oriented east-west (the area east of the long Scandinavian mountain range is an exception).

The majority of the world's human population resides in temperate zones, especially in the northern hemisphere because of the mass of land.

For the history of the term, see geographical zone

Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words

abstemious, abstentious, abstinent, aestival, ascetic, austere, bland, blood-hot, blood-warm, bracing, calid, calm, celibate, chaste, checked, chill, chilly, cold sober, composed, constant, continent, controlled, cool, coolish, curbed, disciplined, discreet, dispassionate, equable, equatorial, even, even-tempered, forbearing, fresh, frugal, genial, gentle, grave, imperturbable, indulgent, invigorating, judicious, luke, lukewarm, measured, mild, mild as milk, moderate, modest, nonviolent, pacifistic, peaceable, peaceful, prudent, puritanical, quiet, rational, reasonable, regulated, restrained, room-temperature, sane, sedate, self-denying, self-indulgent, self-possessed, self-restrained, sensible, serene, serious, sober, sober-minded, sobersided, soft, solemn, sparing, stable, staid, steady, stimulating, stinting, subtropical, summery, sunny, sunshiny, tame, teetotal, tepid, thermal, thermic, toasty, tranquil, tropical, undrunk, undrunken, unexcessive, unexcited, unextreme, unfrozen, unimpassioned, uninebriate, uninebrious, unintoxicated, unperturbed, unruffled, untipsy, warm, warm as toast, warmish

AskDefine | Define temperate

Dictionary Definition

User Contributed Dictionary

English

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adjective

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Verb

Translations

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Italian

Verb

Extensive Definition

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Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words