caliber
[ kal-uh-ber ]
/ ˈkæl ə bər /
noun
the diameter of something of circular section, especially that of the inside of a tube: a pipe of three-inch caliber.
Ordnance.
the diameter of the bore of a gun taken as a unit of measurement.
degree of capacity or competence; ability: a mathematician of high caliber.
degree of merit or excellence; quality: the high moral caliber of the era.
Also
especially British,
cal·i·bre.
Origin of caliber
1560–70; variant of
calibre < Middle French ≪ Arabic
qālib mold, last < Greek
kālápous shoe last, equivalent to
kāla- combining form of
kâlon wood +
poús foot (see
-pod)
SYNONYMS FOR caliber
OTHER WORDS FROM caliber
cal·i·bered; especially British, cal·i·bred, adjectiveWords nearby caliber
calgon,
calhoun,
calhoun, john c.,
cali,
caliban,
caliber,
calibrate,
calibre,
caliceal,
calicectasis,
calicectomy
Example sentences from the Web for calibre
British Dictionary definitions for calibre
calibre
US caliber
/ (ˈkælɪbə) /
noun
the diameter of a cylindrical body, esp the internal diameter of a tube or the bore of a firearm
the diameter of a shell or bullet
ability; distinction
a musician of high calibre
personal character
a man of high calibre
Derived forms of calibre
calibred or US calibered, adjectiveWord Origin for calibre
C16: from Old French, from Italian
calibro, from Arabic
qālib shoemaker's last, mould
Medical definitions for calibre
caliber
[ kăl′ə-bər ]
n.
The diameter of the inside of a round cylinder, such as a tube.