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Glite Dictionary
inside caliper

inside caliper

8.5
A tool with curved legs used to measure the inside width of holes or slots
  • noun
  • /ˈɪnˌsaɪd ˈkælɪpər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : calibrador interno
  • The machinist used an inside caliper to check the diameter of the pipe.

Examples

  • You need an inside caliper when measuring the width of a groove or slot.

  • An inside caliper is an essential tool in both woodworking and metalworking shops.

  • The inside caliper is essential for precise measurements.

  • Can you pass me the inside caliper?

  • The machinist used an inside caliper to ensure the hole was the correct size.

  • An inside caliper is essential for accurately measuring internal dimensions in metalworking.

  • To measure the internal space of the drawer, he reached for an inside caliper.

Antonyms

outside caliper
  • Specialized
7.7

A tool with curved legs that fit around an object to measure its outer size

Surface Forms

inside caliper singular
inside calipers plural

Morphology

inside + caliper

The meaning 'a caliper for measuring internal dimensions' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'inside' (located within) with 'caliper' (a measuring instrument). This modifier + noun composition follows standard English compounding patterns and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Inside caliper gets its name from how it works: a caliper has two legs and this one is placed inside a hole or groove, with the legs curved outward to touch the sides. So, the name means 'a measuring tool for the inside of a pipe or hole'.