- the usual US spelling of calliper
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
cal•i•per or cal•li•per /ˈkæləpɚ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Weights and MeasuresUsually, calipers. [plural] an instrument for measuring thicknesses and diameters, usually made up of a pair of adjustable legs.
cal•i•per
(kal′ə pər),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
v.i.
- Weights and MeasuresUsually, calipers. an instrument for measuring thicknesses and internal or external diameters inaccessible to a scale, consisting usually of a pair of adjustable pivoted legs.
- Weights and Measuresany of various calibrated instruments for measuring thicknesses or distances between surfaces, usually having a screwed or sliding adjustable piece. Cf. vernier caliper.
- thickness or depth, as of paper or a tree.
- InsectsUsually, calipers. the pincers of an earwig.
- Automotivethe part of a disc-brake assembly that straddles the disc and presses the brake pads against it. See illus. under disc brake.
- Transporta similar part used with a hand brake on a bicycle.
v.t.
- Weights and Measuresto measure with calipers.
v.i.
- Weights and Measuresto use calipers.
- presumably variant of caliber 1580–90
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
cal•li•per
(kal′ə pər),USA pronunciation n., v.t.
- Transport, Weights and Measurescaliper.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
- Also called: calliper compasses (often plural)
an instrument for measuring internal or external dimensions, consisting of two steel legs hinged together - Also called: calliper splint
a splint consisting of two metal rods with straps attached, for supporting or exerting tension on the leg
- (transitive)
to measure the dimensions of (an object) with a calliper
'caliper' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):