( especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually cali·ber ) / ˈkælɪbə(r); NAmE / noun
1.
[ U ] the quality of sth, especially a person's ability
SYN standard :
He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job.
The firm needs more people of your calibre.
2.
[ C ] the width of the inside of a tube or gun; the width of a bullet
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (in the sense social standing or importance ): from French , from Italian calibro , perhaps from Arabic qālib mould, based on Greek kalapous shoemaker's last.