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
There’s an aluminum swingarm and KYB suspension calibrated for significant airtime, as well as the incredibly accurate Ducati Traction Control (DTC) – a first for the segment.
—
New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2025
My take is that many people not only haven’t received the memo about what’s really going on but also haven’t calibrated the consequences of current events, which both are obvious and explicit.
—Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
China’s responses to two other rounds of 10 percent tariffs imposed by the United States earlier this year were calibrated to leave the door open for negotiations.
—David Pierson, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
The distance and periodicity measurements are used to calibrate the intrinsic characteristics of Cepheids.
—Anil Ananthaswamy, Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for calibrate
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New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2025
My take is that many people not only haven’t received the memo about what’s really going on but also haven’t calibrated the consequences of current events, which both are obvious and explicit.
—Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
China’s responses to two other rounds of 10 percent tariffs imposed by the United States earlier this year were calibrated to leave the door open for negotiations.
—David Pierson, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
The distance and periodicity measurements are used to calibrate the intrinsic characteristics of Cepheids.
—Anil Ananthaswamy, Scientific American, 1 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 29 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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