collimate

A verb used to describe the act of aligning or making parallel, especially in optics or physics.

• 🇫🇷Verbe décrivant l'action d'aligner ou de rendre parallèle, notamment en optique ou en physique (comme un faisceau de lumière), ou plus généralement d'ajuster ou de rendre cohérent.

1. Align parallel C2 formal technical

   To make or place something parallel to a given line or axis.

   • The technician collimated the laser beam for precise measurements.
   • Engineers collimated the mirrors in the telescope.
   • The device is designed to collimate light rays.

   🇫🇷Aligner parallèlement

   Synonymes: alignline upparallelize

   Antonymes: dispersedivergemisalignscatter

2. Adjust optical instrument C2 formal technical

   To adjust the line of sight or optical axis of an instrument, such as a telescope or microscope, for accurate alignment.

   • He collimated the telescope to get a clearer view of the stars.
   • The microscope needs to be collimated before use.
   • She carefully collimated the binoculars for optimal focus.

   🇫🇷Collimater

   Synonymes: adjustalignline uporientsight

• collimated past participle
• collimated past simple
• collimating present participle
• collimates third person singular