collimate

[ kol-uh-meyt ]
See synonyms for collimate on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),col·li·mat·ed, col·li·mat·ing.
  1. to bring into line; make parallel.

  2. to adjust accurately the line of sight of (a telescope).

Origin of collimate

1
1615–25; <Latin collimātus, misreading of collineātus, past participle of collineāre to direct in a straight line, equivalent to col-col-1 + -lineā-, verbal derivative of linealine1 + -tus past participle suffix

Other words from collimate

  • col·li·ma·tion, noun

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How to use collimate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for collimate

collimate

/ (ˈkɒlɪˌmeɪt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to adjust the line of sight of (an optical instrument)

  2. to use a collimator on (a beam of radiation or particles)

  1. to make parallel or bring into line

Origin of collimate

1
C17: from New Latin collimāre, erroneously for Latin collīneāre to aim, from com- (intensive) + līneāre, from līnea line

Derived forms of collimate

  • collimation, noun

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