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
It’s calibrated to one idea of what curly hair is, without accounting for the variables that actually drive your experience.
—
Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
The scan analyzes facial geometry and uses machine learning to estimate nasal cavity characteristics, allowing the device to calibrate acoustic frequencies for each user.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Huth had grown up on a steady diet of Will Wright, leaving pheromone trails to food caches in SimAnt, calibrating the temperature to make his SimEarth suitable for life.
—Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
What emerges instead is a broader offer, calibrated to different audiences, platforms and programming needs.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for calibrate
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Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
The scan analyzes facial geometry and uses machine learning to estimate nasal cavity characteristics, allowing the device to calibrate acoustic frequencies for each user.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Huth had grown up on a steady diet of Will Wright, leaving pheromone trails to food caches in SimAnt, calibrating the temperature to make his SimEarth suitable for life.
—Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
What emerges instead is a broader offer, calibrated to different audiences, platforms and programming needs.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
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 Mar. 2026.
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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