Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun See caliber.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Diameter of the bore of a firearm, typically measured between opposite lands.
  • noun The diameter of round or cylindrical body, as of a bullet, a projectile, or a column.
  • noun A nominal name for a cartridge type, which may not exactly indicate its true size and may include other measurements such as cartridge length or black powder capacity. Eg 7.62x39 or 38.40.
  • noun Unit of measure used to express the length of the bore of a weapon. The number of calibres is determined by dividing the length of the bore of the weapon, from the breech face of the tube to the muzzle, by the diameter of its bore. A gun tube the bore of which is 40 feet (480 inches) long and 12 inches in diameter is said to be 40 calibers long.
  • noun figuratively Relative size, importance, magnitude.
  • noun figuratively Capacity or compass of mind.
  • noun dated : Degree of importance or station in society.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun diameter of a tube or gun barrel
  • noun a degree or grade of excellence or worth

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French calibre ("bore of a gun, size, capacity (literally, and figuratively), also weight"). Origin uncertain, perhaps, from Latin qua libra ("of what dimensions, weight")

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word calibre.

Examples

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • JM is interested in becoming a human cannonball but wonders if he’s the right calibre.

    May 25, 2011