What does librate mean?
Librate is a rare, formal English verb meaning “to weigh” or “to determine weight by weighing.” It is normally transitive and may refer to weighing an object on a balance, assessing its mass, or examining balance more generally. Its appearance in modern writing is uncommon; the word is much more likely to appear in older scientific, technical, or otherwise formal prose, where it provides a learned alternative to weigh. For example, a historical account might say that an investigator librated a specimen before recording its measurements. Although librate can resemble liberate in spelling, the two have unrelated meanings and pronunciations: one belongs to the vocabulary of scales and measurement, while the other concerns setting free. Librate ultimately comes from Latin librāre, “to weigh,” and libra, “balance” or “scales.” The word is worth knowing chiefly because it reveals the etymological link between weighing, balancing, and words such as libration and deliberate.
verbTo weigh or determine the weight of something. It can also refer to examining or establishing balance.
- To weigh something or determine its weight.
- To consider or establish balance.
"The technician librated each specimen on the balance before recording the results."
"Before recording the result, the technician librated each specimen on the balance."
"Earlier investigators were careful to librate the apparatus before the trial began."
Liberate means to set free; librate means to put on the scales.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does librate come from?
The English verb was borrowed in the early modern period from Latin librāre, “to weigh,” from libra, “balance” or “scales.” Its Latin stem also underlies libration, while deliberate reflects de- plus librare and calibrate ultimately traces to the same Latin word associated with a balance or pound.
Related word forms
How librate is actually used
Rare, formal, and somewhat dated; it occurs chiefly in technical, scientific, or older formal writing and is normally transitive.
Easily confused with librate
Librate means to weigh or balance something, whereas liberate means to set someone or something free.