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damper Hear it!

damper definition

damper (dam′pər)

noun

  1. anything that deadens or depresses
  2. a movable plate or valve in the flue of a stove or furnace, for controlling the draft
  3. a device to check vibration in the strings of a stringed keyboard instrument
  4. a device for lessening the oscillation of a magnetic needle, a moving coil, etc.

Etymology: see damp

damper Idioms

put a damper on

to depress, inhibit, lessen, etc.; dampen the worsening economy has put a damper on new construction

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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