tolerance

Pluraltolerances (some meanings)

Formstolerances, tolerancing, toleranced

1. 1
   noununcountable

   A willingness to accept beliefs and ways of life that are different from your own.

   Like making room at the table for people who think and live differently from you.

   Their teacher taught them tolerance for classmates from other countries.

   Growing up in a busy city gave her real tolerance for different ways of living.

   Similaracceptance, open-mindedness, broad-mindedness, forbearance

   Oppositeintolerance, bigotry, prejudice

   Note
2. 2
   noununcountable

   The body's power to resist a poison, drug, or infection without being badly harmed.

   Like getting used to spicy food, so it no longer feels too hot.

   Years of heavy drinking can build a tolerance to alcohol.

   Some insects develop a tolerance to common bug sprays.

   Similarresistance, immunity

   Oppositesusceptibility, sensitivity

3. 3
   nouncountable

   The amount a measurement is allowed to differ from an exact target size.

   Like a target where landing close enough still counts, not just the exact center.

   The parts must be made within a tolerance of one millimeter.

   A tight tolerance makes the machine harder and slower to build.

   Note
4. 4
   noununcountable

   The body's ability to accept new tissue from a donor without fighting it off.

   Like a new student being welcomed into a class instead of pushed out.

   Doctors use special drugs to help the body build tolerance to a new kidney.

   Without tolerance, the body attacks the transplanted organ.

   Oppositerejection

   Note
5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To make or design a material so it stays within an allowed range of size or variation.

   Like sizing a lid so it always fits the jar, even if both vary a little.

   Engineers tolerance each part so it fits neatly with the others.

   They tolerance the panels to allow for slight changes from heat.

   Note

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