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calibre

British  
/ ˈkælɪbə /

noun

  1. the diameter of a cylindrical body, esp the internal diameter of a tube or the bore of a firearm

  2. the diameter of a shell or bullet

  3. ability; distinction

    a musician of high calibre

  4. personal character

    a man of high calibre

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • calibred adjective

Etymology

Origin of calibre

C16: from Old French, from Italian calibro, from Arabic qālib shoemaker's last, mould

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"The calibre of the opposition, the first time Arsenal have beaten a real rival this season, the manner of the victory and second-half performance. They completely demolished Aston Villa."

From BBC

"It will be hard to find a man of his calibre," Nasreddine al-Maghribi told AFP at a cafe in Libyan capital Tripoli.

From Barron's

He has never fought anyone close to the calibre of the former two-weight world champion but insisted Joshua would take him seriously.

From BBC

Exactly the same could be said about our training grounds, with state-of-the-art fitness and medical centres of the highest calibre, and the pitches are like bowling greens - absolute perfect surfaces, to play and train on.

From BBC

"You don't normally get an exchange student player who is such a high calibre athlete," he recalled.

From BBC