a piece of metal that can be moved to allow more or less air into a fire so that the fire burns more or less strongly （调节空气流量，控制炉火燃烧的）风门，气闸，挡板 a device in a piano that is used to reduce the level of the sound produced （钢琴的）制音器，减音器 - (British English also dampener)damper (on something) (informal)
a thing that makes something less pleasant, successful, etc. 抑制；使扫兴；使沮丧 Lily isn't letting motherhood put a damper on her social life. 莉莉（Lily）不允许母亲身份影响她的社交生活。 The only damper on the show was the rain at the closing ceremony. 演出中唯一的阻碍是闭幕式上的雨。