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
Tully and colleagues used this distance and observations made by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to calibrate the absolute brightness of TRGB stars in NGC 4258.
—
Anil Ananthaswamy, Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2025
This could involve imposing special tariffs calibrated to the size of specific distortions.
—Alden Abbott, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Image Image A number of newer spacecraft are extending Gaia’s scientific legacy by using the mission’s catalog of stars to calibrate their observations.
—Katrina Miller, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
The apparatus is almost calibrated for caution: Each party is guaranteed at least two commissioners at all times.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for calibrate
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Anil Ananthaswamy, Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2025
This could involve imposing special tariffs calibrated to the size of specific distortions.
—Alden Abbott, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Image Image A number of newer spacecraft are extending Gaia’s scientific legacy by using the mission’s catalog of stars to calibrate their observations.
—Katrina Miller, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
The apparatus is almost calibrated for caution: Each party is guaranteed at least two commissioners at all times.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 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 8 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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