DictionaryAI

calibrate

verb
SayKAL-uh-braytUS/ˈkæl.ə.bɹeɪt/AUS/ˈkæl.ə.bɹæɪt/UKKAL-i-brayt/ˈkæl.ɪ.bɹeɪt/

Formscalibrates, calibrating, calibrated

3 meanings of calibrate

Practice

  1. 1
    verbtransitive
    To check something against a correct measure and fix it if it is wrong.

    The nurse has to calibrate the blood pressure machine every month.

    He calibrated the kitchen scale with a one-pound weight.

    Similaradjust, tune

    Note
  2. 2
    verbtransitive
    To draw the marks and numbers on a tool that measures things.

    Before the glass tube is sold, someone must calibrate it with a mark for each degree.

    The old barometer was calibrated in inches of mercury.

    Similargraduate

    Note
  3. 3
    verbtransitive
    To measure how wide the inside of a gun barrel or tube is.

    The gunsmith used a special tool to calibrate the old rifle's barrel and find out what bullets it takes.

    Each pipe was calibrated to find out how wide it was inside.

    Similarmeasure, gauge

    Note

Practice

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Origin

It is made from caliber + -ate.