v., -pered, -per·ing, -pers. v.intr.
- To interfere in a harmful manner: tried to tamper with the decedent's will; tampering with the timing mechanism of the safe.
- To tinker with rashly or foolishly: Don't tamper with my feelings.
- To engage in improper or secret dealings, as in an effort to influence: tamper with a jury. See synonyms at interfere.
To alter improperly.
[Probably alteration of TEMPER.]
tamperer tam'per·er n.tamp·er2 (tăm'pər)
n.
A neutron reflector in an atomic bomb that also delays the expansion of the exploding material, making possible a longer-lasting, more energetic, and more efficient explosion.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
