definitions
  • synonyms

collimate

[ kol-uh-meyt ]
/ ˈkɒl əˌmeɪt /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR collimate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), col·li·mat·ed, col·li·mat·ing.

to bring into line; make parallel.
to adjust accurately the line of sight of (a telescope).

RELATED WORDS

imitate, complement, correspond, correlate, conform, compare, assimilate, equal, agree, liken, equate, paragon, collocate, copy, match, parallelize, accumulate, gather, parallel, collect

Nearby words

collier, jeremy, colliery, collieshangie, colligate, colligative, collimate, collimation, collimator, collin, collinear, collingswood

Origin of collimate

1615–25; < Latin collimātus, misreading of collineātus, past participle of collineāre to direct in a straight line, equivalent to col- col-1 + -lineā-, verbal derivative of linea line1 + -tus past participle suffix
Related formscol·li·ma·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for collimate

collimate

/ (ˈkɒlɪˌmeɪt) /

verb (tr)

to adjust the line of sight of (an optical instrument)
to use a collimator on (a beam of radiation or particles)
to make parallel or bring into line
Derived Formscollimation, noun

Word Origin for collimate

C17: from New Latin collimāre, erroneously for Latin collīneāre to aim, from com- (intensive) + līneāre, from līnea line
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