calibrates

Calibrates is the third-person singular present form of the verb calibrate. To calibrate means to adjust a device or measurement system so that its output matches a reference standard or known true value. The act of calibrating is central to ensuring accuracy, traceability, and reliability of measurements across many fields.

In practical use, an operator calibrates a sensor, instrument, or method by comparing its readings to one or more reference standards over a specified range, and determining any necessary adjustments or correction factors. The result may be an adjusted instrument setting, a calibration curve, or updated documentation describing acceptable tolerances.

Applications include laboratory instrumentation, manufacturing, healthcare devices, meteorology, astronomy, photography and color management, and audio equipment. Calibration processes typically involve selecting standards, taking measurements, calculating corrections, applying adjustments, and validating results. Calibration is distinct from validation, which assesses performance under real-world conditions.

In statistics and data science, calibration can refer to the alignment between predicted probabilities and observed outcomes, indicating how well probabilistic forecasts match actual frequencies.

See also: calibration, metrology, traceability.