- caliper
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/kal"euh peuhr/, 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.7. to measure with calipers.v.i.8. to use calipers.Also, calliper.[1580-90; presumably var. of CALIBER]
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Instrument that consists of two adjustable legs or jaws for measuring the dimensions of material parts.Spring calipers have an adjusting screw and nut; firm-joint calipers use friction at the joint to hold the legs unmoving. Outside calipers measure thicknesses and outside diameters of objects; inside calipers measure hole diameters and distances between surfaces. Hermaphrodite calipers, which have one leg bent inward and one straight leg ending in a sharp point, are used for scribing lines at a specified distance from a flat or curved surface. See also micrometer.* * *
▪ measurement instrumentalso spelled Calliper,measuring instrument that consists of two adjustable legs or jaws for measuring the dimensions of material parts. The calipers on the right side of the illustration—> have an adjusting screw and nut and are known as spring calipers; those on the left are an illustration of firm-joint calipers, which are held in place by friction at the joint. Outside calipers measure thicknesses and outside diameters of objects; inside calipers measure hole diameters and distances between surfaces. To check the dimensions of a machined part, the calipers are first adjusted to the required dimension on a ruler or a standard plug or hole gauge; accuracy in calipering depends in large part on the sense of touch of the operator.A hermaphrodite caliper has one leg bent inward and one straight leg ending in a sharp point; this type of caliper is used for scribing lines at a specified distance from a flat or curved surface.* * *
Universalium. 2010.