outside caliper

7.7

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

noun
/ˈaʊtsaɪd ˈkælɪpər/

Specialized

: calibrador exterior

To check the diameter of the pipe, he used an outside caliper.

Examples

The machinist carefully adjusted the outside caliper before taking the measurement.
He used an outside caliper to measure the pipe's diameter.
Outside calipers are essential tools in metalworking for ensuring precise external sizes.
The outside caliper is essential for precise measurements.
Outside calipers are crucial for accurately measuring the width of metal parts.
The technician used the outside caliper to ensure the rod fit within the specified tolerances.
To measure the external diameter of the cylinder, the engineer relied on a set of outside calipers.

Surface Forms

outside caliper singular

outside calipers plural

Morphology

outside + caliper

The phrase is a straightforward composition of 'outside' (external surface) + 'caliper' (measuring tool), so its meaning — a caliper for measuring external dimensions — is directly derivable from the constituents. This noun-modifier pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words should understand it without prior exposure.

Etymology

Outside caliper is named for the tool's shape: two curved legs that fit around the outside of an object so you can check how big it is. That's why it means 'a tool for measuring the outside size of an object'.