quality, caliber, calibre
(noun) a degree or grade of excellence or worth; āthe quality of students has risenā; āan executive of low caliberā
bore, gauge, caliber, calibre
(noun) diameter of a tube or gun barrel
Source: WordNet® 3.1
calibre (countable and uncountable, plural calibres) (British spelling, AU, Canada, NZ)
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 7.62Ć39 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.
(figuratively) Relative size, importance, magnitude.
(figuratively) Capacity or compass of mind.
(dated) Degree of importance or station in society.
• caliber
Source: Wiktionary
Cal"i*ber, Cal"ibre, n. Etym: [F. calibre, perh. fr. L. qualibra of what pound, of what weight; hence, of what size, applied first to a ball or bullet; cf. also Ar. qalib model, mold. Cf. Calipers, Calivere.]
1. (Gunnery)
Definition: The diameter of the bore, as a cannon or other firearm, or of any tube; or the weight or size of the projectile which a firearm will carry; as, an 8 inch gun, a 12-pounder, a 44 caliber. The caliber of empty tubes. Reid. A battery composed of three guns of small caliber. Prescott.
Note: The caliber of firearms is expressed in various ways. Cannon are often designated by the weight of a solid spherical shot that will fit the bore; as, a 12-pounder; pieces of ordnance that project shell or hollow shot are designated by the diameter of their bore; as, a 12 inch mortar or a 14 inch shell gun; small arms are designated by hundredths of an inch expressed decimally; as, a rifle of .44 inch caliber.
2. The diameter of round or cylindrical body, as of a bullet or column.
3. Fig.: Capacity or compass of mind. Burke. Caliber compasses. See Calipers.
– Caliber rule, a gunner's calipers, an instrument having two scales arranged to determine a ball's weight from its diameter, and conversely.
– A ship's caliber, the weight of her armament.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
22 February 2025
(noun) the use of closed-class words instead of inflections: e.g., āthe father of the brideā instead of āthe brideās fatherā
Espresso is both a coffee beverage and a brewing method that originated in Italy. When making an espresso, a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure forces through finely-ground coffee beans. It has more caffeine per unit volume than most coffee beverages. Its smaller serving size will take three shots to equal a mug of standard brewed coffee.
