Word
tamper
Phoneticstam·per, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtæmpɝ/
UK/tˈæmpɐ/
Definitions
01interfere with
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to touch, alter, or damage something in an unauthorized or harmful way.
v. to interfere with something in order to cause damage or make unauthorized alterations.
“Someone tried to tamper with the lock on the front door.”
“It is a federal offense to tamper with election ballots or postal packages.”
02espresso tool
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Cooking
n. a small, heavy handheld tool used to press and level ground coffee into an espresso portafilter basket.
n. a weighted barista tool with a flat metal base used to compress loose coffee grounds into a uniformly dense cake prior to extraction.
“Press firmly with the tamper to ensure an even surface across the coffee basket.”
“Baristas apply approximately fifteen kilograms of downward pressure with the tamper to prevent water from channeling through gaps.”
Real-World Examples
“The Titan ET58 electronic coffee tamper is a handheld automatic tamping system seeking to deliver consistent pressure of commercial systems at a fraction of the cost, and it’s live on Kickstarter now.” “A new study by Diane E. Gregory and Stephanie E. Romero of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario compares the physical effects of a standard tamper verse a flat, push tamper has on users.” Etymology
From tamp + -er.
From Middle French temprer (“to temper, mix, meddle”). Doublet of temper.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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