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
On the other hand, a Republican ticket can win at well under half the popular vote, another factor Miller has calibrated in his number crunching.
—
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2024
The next release, covering the second quarter of 2024, won’t be published until December; it’s calibrated with the bureau’s other estimates only once a year.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2024
The researchers calibrated their model using data from experiments involving both high- and low-carbohydrate and high- and low-fat meals to ensure that the parameters of the model were robust and reflected real physiological processes.
—New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2024
The team calibrated the phylogenies with ant and fungus fossil records to establish the age of each branch.
—Byariana Remmel, science.org, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for calibrate 
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2024
The next release, covering the second quarter of 2024, won’t be published until December; it’s calibrated with the bureau’s other estimates only once a year.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2024
The researchers calibrated their model using data from experiments involving both high- and low-carbohydrate and high- and low-fat meals to ensure that the parameters of the model were robust and reflected real physiological processes.
—New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2024
The team calibrated the phylogenies with ant and fungus fossil records to establish the age of each branch.
—Byariana Remmel, science.org, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for calibrate
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 21 Oct. 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 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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