cal

n. a short way to write 'calorie', which is a unit of energy in food.

n. a clipping of calorie, used as a unit of energy in nutritional contexts.

“This soda has zero cals, so it is a popular choice for people on a diet.”

“The athlete tracked every cal consumed during the training cycle to ensure their energy intake matched their rigorous output.”

Informal

n. a short way to write 'caliber', which describes the width of a gun's barrel or a bullet.

n. a clipping of caliber, referring to the internal diameter of a firearm barrel or the diameter of a projectile.

“The soldier checked the ammo to make sure it was the right cal for his rifle.”

“The ballistic report identified the weapon as a .45 cal handgun based on the markings found on the recovered shell casings.”

Technical · American English

n. a short way to write 'calendar'.

n. a clipping of calendar, typically used in scheduling or digital interfaces.

“Check the cal to see if we are free for dinner next Tuesday.”

“The project manager updated the shared cal to reflect the new milestones for the third quarter.”

Informal

n. a short way to write 'calibration', which means checking or adjusting a tool to make it accurate.

n. a clipping of calibration, referring to the process of adjusting a precision instrument.

“The technician performed a quick cal on the scales before weighing the chemicals.”

“Standard operating procedures require a daily cal of the sensors to maintain data integrity across all laboratory experiments.”

Technical

n. a short name for people named Caleb, Calvin, or Callum.

n. a diminutive or hypocoristic form of several male given names, including Caleb, Calvin, and Callum.

“Everyone at the office calls him Cal instead of his full name, Calvin.”

“Cal was known for his quiet demeanor, a trait he shared with his grandfather after whom he was named.”

Informal