tempering — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The act by which something is tempered.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Caron has, in fact, discovered this very curious circumstance, that a bar of steel becomes shorter under successive temperings, while it increases in size, laterally, in such a manner, that there actually is an increase of volume.

2. A non-plastic material, such as sand, added to clay to prevent shrinkage and cracking during drying or firing; temper.

   Examples

   Clay and tempering were packed around the pole together with plenty of water[.]

Adjective

1. moderating by making more temperate

Noun

1. hardening something by heat treatment

   Synonyms

   annealing

   Broader terms

   hardening