Standard Lemma guide

collimate

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /ˈkɒlɪmeɪt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To focus into a narrow beam or column; to adjust a focusing device so that it produces a narrow beam.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Lead bricks were placed around the radioactive source so that the escaping gamma rays would be limited to a collimated beam rather than filling the lab.
  • I need to collimate my telescope so that the images are clearer.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

adjust the line of sight of (an optical instrument)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: align, aline, line up, adjust

3

verb

Meaning 3

make or place parallel to something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • They paralleled the ditch to the highway

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: parallel

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

History

Etymology

First attested in 1623; borrowed from Latin collimātus, perfect passive participle of collīmō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), itself originating from a misreading of collīniō, collīneō.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: col·limar — to focus
  • Czech: kolimovat — to focus
  • Czech: soustředit — to focus
  • Czech: usměrnit — to focus
  • Finnish: kollimoida — to focus
  • German: kollimieren — to focus
  • Polish: przetwarzać na wiązkę równoległą — to focus
  • Polish: przetworzyć na wiązkę równoległą — to focus
  • Spanish: colimar — to focus
  • Turkish: hizalamak — to focus