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
Hezbollah deftly calibrated its attacks on Israel’s north, seemingly to avoid drawing Israel into a hotter fight that could erode Hezbollah’s ability to deter an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear program.
—
Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence and security matters, expected Iran to respond with drone or missile attacks on Israeli targets, calibrated to avoid an even bigger response from Israel.
—Shane Harris, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
Attaching contact microphones to each slide whistle was also a possibility, but the work involved in calibrating them to properly isolate the whistle tones simply wasn’t worth it.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
Replete with bubble-gum-pink pastels, vertigo-inducing oils and spindly bronzes, the exhibition is a reminder that art, at its best, is gripping, veiled in delicacy and calibrated to shock.
—Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
The warmth and the breeze had calibrated to the equilibrium of a gorgeous day.
—Rick Rojas Emily Kask, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Last year, the FDA found issues with Neuralink's animal experiments in California, citing quality control concerns, a lack of adequate records, and medical instruments that had not been calibrated.
—Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 26 Mar. 2024
One important note to keep in mind: When using an at-home scale, it should be placed on a flat surface and calibrated regularly to provide the most accurate readings.1
Today’s baby scales are very easy to use.
—Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
And how a civilization calibrated to focus on the near-term could possibly be motivated to address a challenge on that time scale.
—Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence and security matters, expected Iran to respond with drone or missile attacks on Israeli targets, calibrated to avoid an even bigger response from Israel.
—Shane Harris, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
Attaching contact microphones to each slide whistle was also a possibility, but the work involved in calibrating them to properly isolate the whistle tones simply wasn’t worth it.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
Replete with bubble-gum-pink pastels, vertigo-inducing oils and spindly bronzes, the exhibition is a reminder that art, at its best, is gripping, veiled in delicacy and calibrated to shock.
—Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
The warmth and the breeze had calibrated to the equilibrium of a gorgeous day.
—Rick Rojas Emily Kask, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Last year, the FDA found issues with Neuralink's animal experiments in California, citing quality control concerns, a lack of adequate records, and medical instruments that had not been calibrated.
—Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 26 Mar. 2024
One important note to keep in mind: When using an at-home scale, it should be placed on a flat surface and calibrated regularly to provide the most accurate readings.1
Today’s baby scales are very easy to use.
—Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
And how a civilization calibrated to focus on the near-term could possibly be motivated to address a challenge on that time scale.
—Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'calibrate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near calibrate
Cite this Entry
“Calibrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calibrate. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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 thermometer tube)
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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