tamper with

phrasal verb·1 sense·particle with

Usefulness

Meanings

1

Touch or change something without permission, often causing damage

Common in warnings and official reports.

Why “with”? Unwanted contact changes, disturbs, or damages something.

Someone tampered with the door lock.
Someone changed the door lock without permission and may have damaged it.
Do not tamper with the safety controls.
Do not touch or change the safety controls without permission.

Test yourself

Someone tampered with the door lock. What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

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