1
: a dulling or deadening influence
put a damper on the celebration
2
: a device that damps: such as
a
: a valve or plate (as in the flue of a furnace) for regulating the draft
b
: a small felted block to stop the vibration of a piano string
c
chiefly British
: shock absorber
3
Australia
: a simple usually unleavened bread of a kind made originally in the Australian bush
Examples of damper in a Sentence
the pianist used the damper pedal on the piano for the quiet passages
Recent Examples on the Web
The ongoing mechanical assembly included a heavy-duty track rod, drag link, Panhard bar, and a Terrafirma steering damper (keeping the underbody blemish-free are thick aluminum skid plates).
—
Michael Harley, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
This is also the first McLaren road car to use pushrods that are linked to inboard dampers, another aspect of the car’s ruthless aero optimization.
—Jason Barlow, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2024
Before the first freeze moves in, Coloradans should have their home evaluated for leaky ducts, drafts around doors and windows, fireplace dampers and other areas where air might escape.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2024
For example, the group modeled a leg as a combination of rods, springs, and dampers.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for damper 
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Michael Harley, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
This is also the first McLaren road car to use pushrods that are linked to inboard dampers, another aspect of the car’s ruthless aero optimization.
—Jason Barlow, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2024
Before the first freeze moves in, Coloradans should have their home evaluated for leaky ducts, drafts around doors and windows, fireplace dampers and other areas where air might escape.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2024
For example, the group modeled a leg as a combination of rods, springs, and dampers.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for damper
Dictionary Entries Near damper
Cite this Entry
“Damper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/damper. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
damper
noun
damp·er
ˈdam-pər 
: one that damps : as
a
: a valve or plate (as in the flue of a furnace) for regulating the draft
b
: a device (as one of the felt-covered pieces of wood in a piano) used to deaden vibrations or oscillations
c
: a dulling or deadening influence
put a damper on the celebration
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