collimate

(kälə māt′)

transitive verb collimated, collimating

  1. to make (light rays, etc.) parallel
  2. to adjust the line of sight of (a telescope, surveyor's level, etc.)

Origin: < ModL collimare, false reading of L collineare, to direct in a straight line < com-, with + lineare, to make straight < linea, a line

Related Forms:

See collimate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb col·li·mat·ed, col·li·mat·ing, col·li·mates
  1. To make parallel; line up.
  2. To adjust the line of sight of (an optical device).

Origin:

Origin: New Latin collīmāre, collīmāt-

Origin: , alteration of Latin collīneāre, to aim

Origin: : com-, intensive pref.; see com-

Origin: + līneāre, to make straight (from līnea, line; see line1)

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Related Forms:

  • colˌli·maˈtion noun

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