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collimate

[ kol-uh-meyt ]
/ ˈkɒl əˌmeɪt /
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See 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).
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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 linealine1 + -tus past participle suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM collimate

col·li·ma·tion, noun

Words nearby collimate

collier, colliery, collieshangie, colligate, colligative, collimate, collimator, collinear, Collingswood, Collingwood, collins
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to collimate

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

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 forms of collimate

collimation, 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
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