/'dæmpə(r); `dæmpɚ/
n
1 movable metal plate that controls the flow of air into a fire in a stove, furnace, etc 气门; 气闸.
2 small pad that is pressed against a piano-string to stop it vibrating 制音器（终止钢琴弦震动的小毡块）.
3 (idm 习语) put a damper on sth (infml 口) cause (an event, atmosphere, etc) to be less cheerful, excited, etc 使（事情、气氛等）受到抑制, 减弱
*Their argument put a bit of a damper on the party. 他们的争论使聚会颇为扫兴.

n[C]
put a damper on sth
to make something less enjoyable, active, or great than it could have been
　A couple of knee injuries put a damper on his football career.
a type of small metal door that is opened or closed in a stove or furnace, to control the air reaching the fire so that it burns more or less strongly
a piece of equipment that stops a movement from being too strong
a piece of equipment that stops a piano string from making a sound