1. countable noun [usually plural, oft a pair ofNOUN]
Calipers are an instrument consisting of two long, thin pieces of metal joined together at one end, and are used to measure the size of things.
2. countable noun [usually plural]
Calipers are devices consisting of metal rods held together by straps, which are used to support a person's legs when they cannot walk properly.
caliper in British English
(ˈkælɪpə)
noun
the usual US spelling of calliper
caliper in American English
(ˈkæləpər)
noun
1. [usually pl.]
an instrument consisting of a pair of movable, curved legs fastened together at one end, used to measure the thickness or diameter of something: there are inside calipers and outside calipers
2.
caliper rule
3.
thickness, as of paper or cardboard, expressed in mils
4.
a.
the part pressed against the spinning wheel in a hand-operated bicycle braking system
b.
the automotive disc brake housing containing the friction pads
verb transitive, verb intransitive
5.
to measure with calipers
Word origin
var. of caliber
caliper in Automotive Engineering
(kælɪpər) or calliper
Word forms: (regular plural) calipers
noun
(Automotive engineering: Vehicle components, Brakes, steering, wheels, tires, and suspension)
A caliper is the mechanism in a disk brake system that uses a pinching action to cause the brake pads to press onto the disk.
The rear brakes have a 220mm floating disk with a single caliper.
The job of the caliper is to squeeze the brake pads against the rotor surface in order to slow the car.
All models have four disk brakes, including ventilated front disks with twin-pistoncalipers.
caliper in Mechanical Engineering
(kælɪpər)
Word forms: (regular plural) calipers
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Control, instrumentation and metrology)
A caliper is a measuring device that holds the object to be measured between two metal jaws.
Place the tips of the caliper on each end of the sample, and read the measurement.
A caliper's jaws must be brought into contact with the part being measured.
A caliper is a measuring device that holds the object to be measured between two metal jaws.
Examples of 'caliper' in a sentence
caliper
He came striding in, one normal leg, one heavy-looking one as if he was wearing a caliper on it.