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
Analysts said any Iranian countermeasure would be carefully calibrated to avoid a devastating escalation.
—
Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 23 June 2025
Williamson, who was inspired by his own experiences growing up in North Carolina with a fisherman father relying on illicit tactics to stay afloat, calibrates every one of the series’ genre tropes to near perfection.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 June 2025
Each technological and organizational advancement has been calibrated to ensure sustainable and replicable impact, enabling other health systems to adopt and adapt our solutions to their specific realities.
—Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
Unfortunately, the balance was not always correctly calibrated.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for calibrate
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Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 23 June 2025
Williamson, who was inspired by his own experiences growing up in North Carolina with a fisherman father relying on illicit tactics to stay afloat, calibrates every one of the series’ genre tropes to near perfection.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 June 2025
Each technological and organizational advancement has been calibrated to ensure sustainable and replicable impact, enabling other health systems to adopt and adapt our solutions to their specific realities.
—Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
Unfortunately, the balance was not always correctly calibrated.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 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 30 Jun. 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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