Definition

1. Verb:
   • To adjust the line of sight of (an optical instrument): To align the optical components of a device, such as a telescope or microscope, so that its axis is parallel to the intended line of sight, ensuring accurate observation or measurement.
   • To make or place parallel to something: To cause lines, beams, or objects to be parallel to each other or to a given direction.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Before stargazing, you must collimate your telescope to ensure the mirrors are perfectly aligned.
  • The technician needed to collimate the laser beam so it would travel in a straight, non-diverging line.
  • The engineers collimated the new antenna array to the satellite's signal.

Advanced Usage

• "Collimated light": Light whose rays are parallel, exhibiting minimal divergence as it travels. This is a key concept in optics.
  • A laser pointer produces a highly collimated beam of light.

Variants and Related Words

• Collimation (n): The process or result of making something parallel, especially the alignment of an optical system.
  • Proper collimation is essential for the telescope's performance.
• Collimator (n): A device used to produce a parallel beam of radiation or particles, or to align an optical system.
  • The collimator was attached to the front of the X-ray tube.

Synonyms

• Align: To arrange components in a correct relative position.
• Parallel: To make or place something parallel to something else.

Related Phrases

• "To collimate a beam": To adjust a beam of light or other radiation so its rays are parallel.
  • The first step in the experiment was to collimate the beam from the source.

Verb

1. adjust the line of sight of (an optical instrument)
2. make or place parallel to something
   • They paralleled the ditch to the highway