Moderator \Mod"er*a`tor\, n. [L.: cf. F. mod['e]rateur.]
   1. One who, or that which, moderates, restrains, or pacifies.
      --Sir W. Raleigh.
      [1913 Webster]

            Angling was . . . a moderator of passions. --Walton.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The officer who presides over an assembly or discussion to
      preserve order, propose questions, regulate the
      proceedings, and declare the votes.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. In the University of Oxford, an examiner for moderations;
      at Cambridge, the superintendant of examinations for
      degrees; at Dublin, either the first (senior) or second
      (junior) in rank in an examination for the degree of
      Bachelor of Arts.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. A mechanical arrangement for regulating motion in a
      machine, or producing equality of effect.
      [1913 Webster]

	

	moderator
    n 1: any substance used to slow down neutrons in nuclear
         reactors
    2: in the Presbyterian church, the officer who presides over a
       synod or general assembly
    3: someone who presides over a forum or debate
    4: someone who mediates disputes and attempts to avoid violence

	

	57 Moby Thesaurus words for "moderator":
   JP, Justice, MC, alleviative, alleviator, anchorman, anodyne,
   arbiter, arbitrator, assuager, balm, bencher, calmative, chair,
   chairman, conciliator, coordinator, critic, cushion, dolorifuge,
   emcee, his honor, his lordship, his worship, impartial arbitrator,
   indicator, judge, justice, lenitive, magistrate,
   master of ceremonies, mediator, mitigator, modulator, mollifier,
   negotiator, pacificator, pacifier, palliative, peacemaker,
   president, presiding officer, referee, restraining hand, salve,
   sedative, shock absorber, soother, soothing syrup, stabilizer,
   temperer, third party, toastmaster, tranquilizer, umpire,
   unbiased observer, wiser head

	

	moderator

   A person, or small group of people, who manages a moderated
   mailing list or Usenet newsgroup.  Moderators are
   responsible for determining which email submissions are passed
   on to the list or newsgroup.

	

	MODERATOR. A person appointed to preside at a popular meeting; sometimes he 
is called a chairman.