calibration

American  

[kal-uh-brey-shuhn] / ˌkæl əˈbreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of determining, checking, or rectifying the settings or gradations on a measuring instrument or other piece of precision equipment; the resulting condition of the equipment.

   I took the copter down to the beach to do the compass calibration, so as to be absolutely sure there was no metal around when I did it.

2. the act or process of marking a measuring instrument with the necessary gradations; the resulting markings or settings.

   Our measuring cups are designed with calibrations on the side so that exact measurement can be given.

3. the act or process of planning or devising something carefully so as to have a precise use, application, appeal, etc..

   He advocated for the calibration of fiscal policy to balance growth needs and minimize debt.

4. the act or process of determining the correct range for an artillery gun, mortar, etc., by observing where the projectile hits.

   The field regiment moved to a deserted area to carry out a shoot for the calibration of every gun.

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Other Word Forms

• intercalibration noun

Etymology

Origin of calibration

calibr(ate) + -ation ( def. )

Example Sentences

Life in such an environment required careful calibration: How Jewish should one be?

From The Wall Street Journal

This hybrid approach is the key to success: it combines the extreme sensitivity of photon detection with the ability to "recover" the calibration capabilities of the Autler-Townes method even for the weakest signals.

From Science Daily

If Grizzly Bear’s early years were about convergence — four young men building a sound that felt both communal and claustrophobic, this chapter is about calibration: finding equilibrium after a long season apart.

From Los Angeles Times

Detecting these fleeting pairs among countless other particles required extremely sensitive equipment and meticulous calibration.

From Science Daily

They need to learn their own delicate calibration of family dynamics – of when to speak and when not to, she says.

From BBC

Related Words

• amount
• analysis
• appraisal
• assessment
• density
• dimension
• evaluation
• frequency
• height
• measure
• size
• survey
• weight