Dictionary
cal•i•per
Pronunciation: (kal'u-pur), [key]—
n.
1. Usually,
calipers. an instrument for measuring thicknesses and internal or external diameters inaccessible to a scale, consisting usually of a pair of adjustable pivoted legs.
2. any of various calibrated instruments for measuring thicknesses or distances between surfaces, usually having a screwed or sliding adjustable piece. Cf.
vernier caliper.
3. thickness or depth, as of paper or a tree.
4. Usually,
calipers. the pincers of an earwig.
5. Auto.the part of a disc-brake assembly that straddles the disc and presses the brake pads against it. See illus. under
disc brake.
6. a similar part used with a hand brake on a bicycle.
—
v.t.
to measure with calipers.
—
v.i.
to use calipers.
Also,calliper.Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.