adj.1 avoiding excess; self-restrained.
2 moderate.
3 (of a region or climate) characterized by mild temperatures.
4 abstemious.
Phrases and idioms:
temperate zone the belt of the earth between the frigid and the torrid zones.
Derivatives:
temperately adv. temperateness n.
Etymology: ME f. L temperatus past part. of temperare: see TEMPER