calibrate
verb
cal·i·brate
ˈka-lə-ˌbrāt 
calibrated; calibrating
1
: to ascertain the caliber of (something)
2
: to determine, rectify, or mark the graduations of (something, such as a thermometer tube)
3
: to standardize (something, such as a measuring instrument) by determining the deviation from a standard so as to ascertain the proper correction factors
4
: to adjust precisely for a particular function
calibrate a thermometer
5
: to measure precisely
carefully calibrate the dosage of a medicine
especially
: to measure against a standard
Examples of calibrate in a Sentence
carefully calibrate the dosage of a medicine
Recent Examples on the Web
When the scares do hit, they’re perfectly calibrated.
—
Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Flying multiple small telescopes in formation to mimic a giant mirror would require keeping their positions calibrated with precision down to the scale of a typical molecule.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
The joke density is lethally calibrated between the writing, direction, performances, reactions, and heightened absurdity of any mundane situation.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
From the moment the livestream session began, I and other participants were thrown into the control room at Gemini South as astronomers began calibrating the telescope.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for calibrate
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Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Flying multiple small telescopes in formation to mimic a giant mirror would require keeping their positions calibrated with precision down to the scale of a typical molecule.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
The joke density is lethally calibrated between the writing, direction, performances, reactions, and heightened absurdity of any mundane situation.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
From the moment the livestream session began, I and other participants were thrown into the control room at Gemini South as astronomers began calibrating the telescope.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for calibrate
Cite this Entry
“Calibrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calibrate. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
calibrate
verb
cal·i·brate
ˈkal-ə-ˌbrāt
calibrated; calibrating
1
: to measure the caliber of
2
a
: to determine, correct, or put the measuring marks on (as a tire pressure gauge)
b
: make standard (as a measuring instrument) by finding out and correcting for the differences from an accepted or ideal value
calibration
noun
ˌkal-ə-ˈbrā-shən
Medical Definition
calibrate
transitive verb
cal·i·brate
ˈkal-ə-ˌbrāt
calibrated; calibrating
1
: to ascertain the caliber of (as a thermometer tube)
2
: to determine, rectify, or mark the graduations of (as a thermometer tube)
3
: to standardize (as a measuring instrument) by determining the deviation from a standard so as to ascertain the proper correction factors
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