caliber

Plural: calibers

Noun

• The diameter of a gun barrel or a measure of quality.
• a degree or grade of excellence or worth
  • "an executive of low caliber"
• diameter of a tube or gun barrel
• 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.

Examples

• His high-caliber vocabulary allowed him to play words like CALIBER with ease.

Synonyms

bore, calibre, gauge, quality

Related Words

calibrate, calibration, calipers