tamper — to interfere with something in order to cause damage or make unauthorized alterations
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to interfere with something in order to cause damage or make unauthorized alterations
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈtæmpər/
Example Sentences
- The detective discovered that someone had tampered with the crime scene.
- My little brother tampered with my computer and now it speaks only in emoji.
- The package had a tamper-evident seal to ensure product safety.
tamper
VERB[/ˈtæmpər/]
to interfere with something in order to cause damage or make unauthorized alterations
Illegally interfering with someone's property
Don't tamper with the camper - it will only hamper!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from 16th-century French 'temper', originally meaning 'to mix clay or mud'. Over time, the meaning evolved to carry a negative connotation of 'to touch or alter something improperly or without permission'.
Breakdown
The root 'temper' (to mix, to blend) underwent a semantic shift in English, with the addition of the variant form 'tamper', which came to mean 'to meddle with' or 'to alter something inappropriately'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The detective discovered that someone had tampered with the crime scene.”
“My little brother tampered with my computer and now it speaks only in emoji.”
“The package had a tamper-evident seal to ensure product safety.”
“Don't tamper with the thermostat - the office temperature war has gone too far!”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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