Skip to main content
to calibrate

to calibrate

1 6.9
Measure the inside size of a gun barrel or tube
  • verb
  • /ˈkælɪˌbreɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : medir el calibre
  • Yeah, but they calibrated so it would be detected by the stereo cameras and they could render in Unity a blade that came out of it.

Examples

  • I have calibrated and achieved the same results.

    Blog text (20)
  • I don't think the sight on the gun is calibrated.

  • So that means the second, the instant the bullet hits your flesh, it's been calibrated to start to split apart when it meets the you.

  • She stretched one leg, calibrating her movement so Paul didn't feel it.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • As an added benefit, fewer fossils would be necessary to calibrate nodes (and indirectly, rates).

    Academic text (2018)
  • In all cases, the water flow rate was explicitly measured by timing the filling of a calibrated receptacle.

    Blog text (10)
  • They've calibrated their sights, they've practiced on moving targets.

  • By contrast, the alternative developed here suggests that courts ought to calibrate the content and directionality of fiduciary duties to suit the characteristics of particular mandates.

    Academic text (2018)
  • It had a 22" barrel, full mag tube, calibrated for 35 rem, with a serial number of P24XXX for 450.00.

    Blog text (20)
  • The technician needs to calibrate the scope before the shooting competition.

Surface Forms

calibrate infinitive
calibrated past
calibrated past participle
calibrating present participle
calibrates third person singular

Morphology

calibrate = caliber (transparent) = caliber + ate

This sense literally means 'to measure the caliber' and is a direct verbal formation from 'caliber' + '-ate'.

Etymology

Calibrate is tied to caliber (or calibre), which means the 'internal size' of a gun or tube and comes from Arabic qalib meaning 'mold'. So to calibrate a barrel or similar part is to measure or check its 'caliber' so it will work safely and accurately.