DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Cal·i·ber, Cal·ibre  n.
 1. Gunnery 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.
 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.
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