caliber Meaning & Definition
What Does Caliber Mean?
Caliber is a noun that means Diameter of the bore of a firearm, typically measured between opposite lands. It can also mean The diameter of round or cylindrical body, as of a bullet, a projectile, or a column.
Quick Facts About Caliber
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈkæl.ɪ.bə(ɹ)// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | quality, bore and calibre |
| Plural | calibers |
Caliber Definition (Noun)
- Diameter of the bore of a firearm, typically measured between opposite lands.
- The diameter of round or cylindrical body, as of a bullet, a projectile, or a column.
- 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 7.62×39 or 38.40.
- 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.
- Relative size, importance, magnitude.
- Capacity or compass of mind.
- Degree of importance or station in society.
- Movement of a timepiece.
Synonyms of Caliber
Caliber synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Caliber
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Caliber in a Sentence
No example sentences are available for this entry.
Word Forms & Grammar
caliber (countable and uncountable, plural calibers)
Words That Rhyme With Caliber
Origin of Caliber
From French calibre (“bore of a gun, size, capacity (literally, and figuratively), also weight”), from Italian calibro.
Pronouncing Caliber
The standard pronunciation of caliber is //ˈkæl.ɪ.bə(ɹ)//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Caliber: Your Questions Answered
What part of speech is caliber?
Caliber is a noun.
What is another word for caliber?
Close synonyms of caliber are quality, bore and calibre. See the full list of caliber synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of caliber?
The plural of caliber is calibers.