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
Two manual thermometers in the kitchen were not properly calibrated, according to the report.
—
Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2025
There’s also a new liability in the form of Bronte (Madeline Brewer), a manic-pixie-literary-dreamgirl perfectly calibrated to unravel Joe with just a look.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2025
But that first script was well calibrated with subtle humor and romance.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Sandberg effectively calibrates the silences in these moments — letting entire sequences play out with little sound expect a creaking floorboard, a heavy breath or the turn of the page — to ratchet up the tension.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for calibrate
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Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2025
There’s also a new liability in the form of Bronte (Madeline Brewer), a manic-pixie-literary-dreamgirl perfectly calibrated to unravel Joe with just a look.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2025
But that first script was well calibrated with subtle humor and romance.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Sandberg effectively calibrates the silences in these moments — letting entire sequences play out with little sound expect a creaking floorboard, a heavy breath or the turn of the page — to ratchet up the tension.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 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 Apr. 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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