calibrate

1 of 2

verb

cal·​i·​brate ˈka-lə-ˌbrāt 

calibrated; calibrating

transitive verb

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

calibrator

ˈka-lə-ˌbrā-tər 

noun

calibrator

2 of 2

noun

cal·​i·​bra·​tor ˈka-lə-ˌbrā-tər 

variants or calibrater

plural -s

: one that calibrates: such as

a

: an instrument for measuring the caliber of any passage

b

: an instrument that measures variable quantities or elements (as frequency or capacity) in electronic equipment

Examples of calibrate in a Sentence

Verb

carefully calibrate the dosage of a medicine

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Accurate, current data on buying group behavior lets product and marketing teams calibrate for both. — Rob Sanchez, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

The data must then be calibrated against a vast number of reference images to filter out noise and imperfections. — IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2026

Before the system can accurately overlay information onto the road, each motorcycle must be calibrated and registered in the app's AR Vision Garage. — New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2026

The brewing cycle is calibrated to the company’s proprietary K-cups but should still yield a good cup of coffee. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

caliber + -ate entry 4, perhaps after French calibrer

First Known Use

Verb

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for calibrate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids 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

ˌkal-ə-ˈbrā-shən

noun

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

calibration

ˌkal-ə-ˈbrā-shən 

noun

calibrator

ˈkal-ə-ˌbrāt-ər 

noun