calibrate

verb cal·i·brate \ ˈka-lə-ˌbrāt \

Updated on: 20 May 2018

Definition of calibrate

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

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calibrator

play \-ˌbrā-tər\ noun

See calibrate defined for English-language learners

See calibrate defined for kids

Examples of calibrate in a Sentence

carefully calibrate the dosage of a medicine

Recent Examples of calibrate from the Web

Whichever of those bills receives the most votes, exceeding a majority, would pass the House — a setup that is calibrated to secure passage of a bipartisan compromise.

— mike debonis, BostonGlobe.com, "GOP immigration moderates seek to force House votes on issue," 9 May 2018
Each plate is finely calibrated but packs a visceral wallop.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "A Meal at José Andrés’s Somni Is Nothing Short of Mind-Altering," 4 May 2018
Short of military options and economically distressed at home, Iran appears to be calibrating its response to escalating diplomatic and military pressure from the U.S. and its allies Israel and Saudi Arabia.

— asa fitch, WSJ, "Iran Works to Keep Europe On Board Amid Uncertainty Over Nuclear Deal," 1 May 2018
But there is an effort to calibrate the response, even as Trump is pressing his team to act.

— kevin liptak, CNN, "Mattis warns Trump on risks of escalating US involvement in Syria," 13 Apr. 2018
The Bird scooters are calibrated to go a maximum of 15 mph and last about 15 miles on a charge.

— kathleen pender, San Francisco Chronicle, "Electric scooters for grown-ups now available for rent in SF, San Jose," 28 Mar. 2018
In calibrating their responses in the aftermath of the first death, everyone from industry executives to regulators to safety advocates should be reminded that an average of 102 people die every day on American roads.

— pete bigelow, Car and Driver, "First Death Brings Unanswered Questions, Rattles the Self-Driving Future," 20 Mar. 2018
Once confirmed in the role, Yi will face an immediate task of calibrating the PBOC’s response to monetary policy normalization in the U.S.

— Bloomberg.com, "Yi Gang to Become China’s Central Bank Governor, WSJ Reports," 18 Mar. 2018
Once a quick scan of your face is calibrated through real-time video, customization options for eyes, nose, jaw, lip and face are then available.

— lauren alexis fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Mirror, Mirror: Photoshop App Gets a FaceTime Treatment," 23 July 2014

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'calibrate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of calibrate

1850

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

CALIBRATE Defined for English Language Learners

calibrate

verb

Definition of calibrate for English Language Learners

: to adjust or mark (something, such as a measuring device) so that it can be used in an accurate and exact way
: to measure (something) in an exact and precise way