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😕 A mood killer 🔧 A vibration stopper 🔥 Air control plate
damper

damper

11 7.2
A device that reduces vibrations in machines, buildings, or speakers
  • noun
  • /ˈdæmpər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : amortiguador
  • In the acoustic lab, they installed a special damper to reduce sound reverberation for clearer recordings.
  • damper and valve
  • advanced dampers
  • spring and damper

Still, while tuned mass dampers and shock absorbers are great, they're not perfect.

Examples

  • In addition, mechanical dampers are attached to the weight levers to prevent rapid dropping of the legs if FNS control fails.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The SM-1700 Series heavy-duty rotary actuators are designed for applications requiring precise control of dampers, registers, valves, or other devices with a 90-degree rotation requirement.

    Academic text (1994)

  • And then when you take your finger off the key, the damper will come back down most of the time.

  • This looks like a rubber damper and or bumper if I push on it.

  • Also, if you read the reviews on the steering damper, it has fixed a lot of death wobble problems.

    Blog text (20)

  • The chair is equipped with a mechanical damper to prevent the rapid dropping of the leg if the muscle control fails.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Fourth, a felt-covered damper is lowered onto the string to muffle the sound.

    Academic text (1994)

  • The Type K damper drives are pneumatically actuated but operate off an electronic signal.

    Academic text (2002)

  • Vibrations are usually controlled with passive measures, such as reinforcing afflicted members or installing vibration dampers.

    Academic text (1994)

  • The engineers used a large damper to minimize vibrations in the building during heavy winds.

Synonyms

muffler
vsdamper
  • US
20 4.4

A part that makes a car or machine sound quieter

is used across many systems to reduce oscillation amplitude rather than just vehicle noise
deadener
vsdamper
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A material or device that reduces noise and vibration

focuses on reducing oscillation amplitude in engineered systems rather than purely blocking
arrester
vsdamper
  • Specialized
6.5

A device that stops movement or limits flow in machines and electrical systems

reduces oscillation amplitude rather than fully stopping flow or movement

Compounds

damper block
  • Specialized
8.2

A small piece of felt that drops on a piano string to stop it from vibrating

piano damper
  • Specialized
6.5

A small soft pad that rests on a piano string to stop it from vibrating

How Effective

shock absorber
  • Specialized
3 3.9
damper
  • Specialized
11 7.2
dashpot
  • Specialized
9.1

Surface Forms

damper singular
dampers plural

Morphology

damper = damp (semi-transparent) = damp + er

Formally an agent/instrument built from the verb 'damp' + '-er', but the highly technical meaning (reducing oscillations) may be unfamiliar to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Damper comes from the common verb dampen, which means 'to make less active' or 'to make quieter'. So an engineering or acoustic damper is a part that 'dampens' vibrations — it reduces unwanted movement or sound.