tamper
/ˈtæm.pə(ɹ)/ noun, verb
Forms tampers tampering tampered
- noun A tool used to tamp something down, such as tobacco in a pipe.
- noun (rail transport) A railway vehicle used to tamp down ballast.
- noun An envelope of neutron-reflecting material in a nuclear weapon, used to delay the expansion of the reacting material and thus produce a longer-lasting and more energetic explosion.
- verb (intransitive) To make unauthorized or improper alterations, sometimes causing deliberate damage; to meddle (with something). “tamper detection”
- verb (intransitive) To try to influence someone, usually in an illegal or devious way; to try to deal (with someone). “Prosecutors argued that he would tamper with witnesses if bail was granted.”
- verb (dated) To meddle (with something) in order to corrupt or pervert it.
- verb (obsolete) To involve oneself (in a plot, scheme, etc.).
- verb (obsolete) To attempt to practise or administer something (especially medicine) without sufficient knowledge or qualifications.
- verb (US, Canada, in professional sports) To discuss future contracts with a player, against league rules.
Synonyms
ballast tamper tamping machine interfere debauch lead astray seduce adulterate corrupt demoralize detort file immoralize pervert pollute preposterate sophisticate suborn subvert unmoralize vitiate tamp tamping bar fiddle monkey meddle
Etymology
From tamp + -er.
From Middle French temprer (“to temper, mix, meddle”). Doublet of temper.
Webster’s 1913
- noun One who tamps; specifically, one who prepares for blasting, by filling the hole in which the charge is placed.
- noun An instrument used in tamping; a tamping iron.
- verb To meddle; to be busy; to try little experiments; as, to tamper with a disease.
- verb To meddle so as to alter, injure, or vitiate a thing.
Etymology [A corruption of temper.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “tamper”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details