caliber

C1 Topic:Mathematics & Measurement

Also spelled calibre

US /ˈkæl.ə.bɚ/ UK /ˈkæl.ɪ.bə/ See IPA manual

Freq #10901

Meanings

1

noun
the level of quality, ability, or importance of a person or thing

The orchestra attracts musicians of the highest caliber.
2

noun
the internal diameter of a gun barrel or the corresponding diameter of its ammunition

The markings identify the caliber of ammunition the rifle accepts.
3

noun
the diameter of a cylindrical or roughly round object

Engineers measured the caliber of each metal tube before installation.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the level of quality,... quality standard ability stature

2 noun · the internal diameter of a... bore diameter

3 noun · the diameter of a... diameter gauge

Word family

Derived forms caliberedsubcalibermulticaliber

Related forms calibrecalibratecalibrationcalipers

Etymology

From French calibre, from Italian calibro. The Italian word is generally traced to Arabic qalib ("mold, model, shoemaker's last"). A term for physical dimensions, especially a gun's bore, later developed the figurative sense of a person's or thing's quality.

Topics

Mathematics & Measurement

External links

# caliber

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈkæl.ə.bɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkæl.ɪ.bə/
**Frequency rank:** 10901

## Meanings
1. the level of quality, ability, or importance of a person or thing
2. the internal diameter of a gun barrel or the corresponding diameter of its ammunition
3. the diameter of a cylindrical or roughly round object

## Examples
- The orchestra attracts musicians of the highest caliber.
- The markings identify the caliber of ammunition the rifle accepts.
- Engineers measured the caliber of each metal tube before installation.

## Synonyms
- quality
- standard
- ability
- bore
- diameter
- gauge

## Derived Forms
- calibered
- subcaliber
- multicaliber

## Related Forms
- calibre
- calibrate
- calibration
- calipers

## Etymology
From French calibre, from Italian calibro. The Italian word is generally traced to Arabic qalib ("mold, model, shoemaker's last"). A term for physical dimensions, especially a gun's bore, later developed the figurative sense of a person's or thing's quality.

## Topics
- Mathematics & Measurement

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