moderate

Adjective

moderate (comparative more moderate, superlative most moderate)

1. Not excessive; acting in moderation.
   • moderate language
   • a moderate Calvinist
2. More 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
   • 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 dews1859, Arthur Hugh Clough, Life of Sertorius
6. (US) Having an intermediate position between liberal and conservative.

   Synonyms:

   middle-of-the-road

Noun

moderate (plural moderates)

1. One who holds an intermediate position between extremes, as in politics.
   • While the moderates usually propose political compromise, it's often only achieved when the extremists allow them so
   • The moderates are the natural advocates of ecumenism against the fanatics of their churches.
2. (historical) One 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.

Verb

UK/ˈmɒdəɹeɪt/US/ˈmɑdəɹeɪt/

moderate (third-person singular simple present moderates, present participle moderating, simple past and past participle moderated)

1. (transitive) To reduce the excessiveness of (something).
   • to moderate rage, action, desires, etc.
   • 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

   Synonyms:

   accoy, mitigate, soften, temper, temperate, qualify

2. (intransitive) To become less excessive.
   • He used to be an extremist but moderated later in life.

   Synonyms:

   cool, settle down, soften, ease off

3. (transitive) To preside over (something) as a moderator.
   • to moderate a synod

   Synonyms:

   arbitrate, chair

4. (intransitive) To 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. (transitive) To 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