The word "calibrate" is spelled with a "c" but has a "k" sound. This is because it is derived from the Greek word "kalos" which also begins with a "k" sound, but was romanized into the Latin alphabet as a "c". The pronunciation is /ˈkæl.ɪ.breɪt/, with stress on the second syllable. It means to adjust, check, or standardize an instrument or device. It is commonly used in scientific and technical contexts, and is an important concept in engineering and metrology.
Calibrate is a verb that refers to the act of measuring or adjusting something, such as an instrument or a device, to ensure accuracy or conformity with a known standard. This term commonly applies to mechanical, electronic, or scientific instruments that require precise measurement or calibration for their optimal functioning.
When an instrument or device is calibrated, it means that its readings or outputs have been adjusted or set according to a specific reference or standard. This process enables the instrument to deliver accurate and reliable measurements or data.
Calibration involves comparing the values indicated by the device, or its outputs, to those produced by a known, more accurate standard or reference. Any discrepancies between the two are then adjusted or corrected to align the instrument's measurements with the desired standard.
This process of calibrating instruments is essential in various fields, including engineering, manufacturing, chemistry, physics, and medical sciences. It ensures the integrity and precision of measurements, promoting consistency, reliability, and accuracy in the results obtained.
Calibration may involve adjusting different parameters of an instrument, such as sensitivity, range, or zero point, to ensure the instrument's readings are within acceptable margins of error.
In summary, calibrate is an action of fine-tuning or setting an instrument or device to a known reference or standard, thereby guaranteeing accuracy and reliability in its measurements or outputs.
To measure the diameter of a canal.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "calibrate" originally comes from the Latin word "calibrare", which means "to level, to measure accurately". This Latin root is derived from the word "calix" or "chalice", which was used to measure liquids in ancient Rome. The term "calibra" also emerged in the late 16th century as a noun, meaning a measuring instrument, and from this, the verb "calibrate" formed in the early 19th century, with the meaning of adjusting or standardizing a measuring instrument or device.