moderate

adj

1. Not excessive; acting in moderation

   “moderate language”

   “a moderate Calvinist”

   “travelling at a moderate speed”

   “A number of moderate members managed […] to obtain a majority in a thin house.”

2. more than mild, less than severe
3. Mediocre
4. Average priced; standard-deal
5. Not violent or rigorous; temperate; mild; gentle.

   “a moderate winter”

   “These are called the Islands of the Blest; rains fall there seldom, and in moderate showers, but for the most part they have gentle breezes, bringing along with them soft dews”

6. (US)Having an intermediate position between liberal and conservative.

noun

1. One who holds an intermediate position between extremes, as in politics.

   “While the moderates usually propose political compromise, it's often only achieved when the extremists allow them so”

   “The moderates are the natural advocates of ecumenism against the fanatics of their churches.”

   “On the other side, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch (a moderate) has to contend with the hardliners on his executive, whose intentions go way beyond trying to sort out their members' terms and conditions.”

2. (historical)One of a party in Scottish Church history dominant in the 18th century, lax in doctrine and discipline, but intolerant of evangelicalism and popular rights. It caused the secessions of 1733 and 1761, and its final resultant was the Disruption of 1843.

verb

1. (transitive)To reduce the excessiveness of (something).

   “to moderate rage, action, desires, etc.”

   “By its astringent Quality, it moderates the relaxing quality of warm Water.”

   “This leaves two strategies to increase the current in a positron beam. First is to provide a stronger positron source and second is to develop a more efficient method to moderate the source positrons into a monoenergetic beam.”

2. (intransitive)To become less excessive.

   “He used to be an extremist but moderated later in life.”

3. (transitive)To preside over (something) as a moderator.

   “to moderate a synod”

4. (intransitive)To act as a moderator; to assist in bringing to compromise.

   “We need more users to volunteer to moderate the comment section of our forum.”

5. (transitive)To supply with a moderator (substance that decreases the speed of neutrons in a nuclear reactor and hence increases likelihood of fission).

   “a graphite-moderated reactor”