Meaning & use
temperate
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
Neither very hot nor very cold, as with a climate or region.
Grammar: Before a noun: a temperate climate.
Patterns
- temperate zone
Britain has a temperate climate with mild summers.
Temperate forests lose their leaves in autumn.
They moved to a temperate region near the coast.
adjectivecomparableformal
Showing moderation and self-control in behavior, speech or habits.
Grammar: Describes people or behavior.
Patterns
- temperate in something
He was temperate in his drinking.
Her temperate reply calmed the debate.
The judge's temperate tone impressed everyone.
Word forms
| comparative | more temperate |
|---|---|
| superlative | most temperate |
Common combinations
- temperate climate
- The vines grow well in a temperate climate.
- temperate zone
- The temperate zone lies between the tropics and poles.
- temperate forest
- A temperate forest turns gold in fall.
- temperate in
- He is temperate in his habits.
- temperate language
- Use temperate language in your reply.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mild
- Mild is the everyday word for gentle weather, while temperate is more scientific.
- moderate
- Moderate means within reasonable limits, and is wider than temperate.
- restrained
- Restrained stresses holding back, while temperate suggests balance.
- balanced
- Balanced means evenly weighted, not necessarily self-controlled.
Opposites
Word family
- temperance noun
- moderation, especially avoiding alcohol
- intemperate adjective
- lacking self-control
- temper verb
- to soften or moderate
- temperately adverb
- in a moderate way
Commonly confused: temperate or temperature?
temperate vs temperature
Temperature is a measure of heat; temperate describes a mild climate or moderate behavior.
Practice
Which climate is described as temperate?
Choose one answer.
Temperate climates avoid extremes. The others describe extreme conditions.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “temperate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.