gauge

[ geyj ]

/ geɪdʒ /

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See synonyms for: gauge / gauged / gauges / gauging on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), gauged, gaug·ing.

to determine the exact dimensions, capacity, quantity, or force of; measure.

to appraise, estimate, or judge.

to make conformable to a standard.

to mark or measure off; delineate.

to prepare or mix (plaster) with a definite proportion of plaster of Paris and mortar.

to chip or rub (bricks or stones) to a uniform size or shape.

noun

a standard of measure or measurement.

a standard dimension, size, or quantity.

any device or instrument for measuring, registering measurements, or testing something, especially for measuring a dimension, quantity, or mechanical accuracy: pressure gauge; marking gauge.

a means of estimating or judging; criterion; test.

extent; scope; capacity: trying to determine the gauge of his own strength.

Ordnance. a unit of measure of the internal diameter of a shotgun barrel, determined by the number of spherical lead bullets of a diameter equal to that of the bore that are required to make one pound: a twelve-gauge shotgun.

Railroads. the distance between the inner edges of the heads of the rails in a track, usually 4 feet 8.5 inches (1.4 meters) (standard gauge ), but sometimes more (broad gauge ) and sometimes less (narrow gauge ).

the distance between a pair of wheels on an axle.

the thickness or diameter of various, usually thin, objects, as the thickness of sheet metal or the diameter of a wire or screw.

the fineness of a knitted fabric as expressed in loops per every 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters): 15 denier, 60 gauge stockings.

Nautical. the position of one vessel as being to the windward (weather gauge ) or to the leeward (lee gauge ) of another vessel on an approximately parallel course.

Building Trades. the portion of the length of a slate, tile, etc., left exposed when laid in place.

the amount of plaster of Paris mixed with mortar or common plaster to hasten the set.

OTHER WORDS FOR gauge

2 evaluate, assess, value, calculate.

See synonyms for gauge on Thesaurus.com

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Also especially in technical use, gage .

Origin of gauge

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Old North French (French jauge ), from Germanic

historical usage of gauge

The noun gauge (also gage ) appears in Middle English in 1332 in the compound noun gaugeman “official measurer.” A century later, in 1440, the verb gaugen (also gagen ) appears, meaning “to measure (depth, length), measure out (a quantity), make an official measurement of (a container or its contents).” The administrative state has always been in control! The figurative sense “to take the measure of a person or thing; appraise, judge” first appears in 1583.
Middle English gauge (noun and verb) comes from Old French gauger (verb) “to measure” and gauge (noun) “the action or result of measuring” (in modern French jauger and jauge for the verb and noun, respectively). Further etymology is speculative and unsatisfactory; some authorities suggest a Germanic noun galgōn- “branch, rod,” which becomes gealga in Old English (Modern English gallows ).
In Middle English the spellings gage- and gauge- occur indiscriminately, and some reputable modern authorities recommend the spelling gage, which is the spelling often used in technical contexts. A very common misspelling is guage.

OTHER WORDS FROM gauge

gauge·a·ble, adjectivegauge·a·bly, adverbmis·gauge, verb (used with object), mis·gauged, mis·gaug·ing.mul·ti·gauge, adjective

re·gauge, verb (used with object), re·gauged, re·gaug·ing.self-gauging, adjectiveun·gauged, adjective

Words nearby gauge

Gaudí i Cornet, gaudy, gauffer, gauffering, Gaugamela, gauge, gauge boson, gauger, gauge theory, Gauguin, Gauguin, Paul

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gauge in a sentence

Scientists have long known that the brain harbors the biological equivalent of a car’s fuel gauge—a complex homeostatic system that allows our gray matter to track the state of our basic biological needs, like those for food, water, and sleep.
Why do you feel lonely? Neuroscience is starting to find answers.|Amy Nordrum|September 4, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Once the temperature gauge on top let us know that the grill was adequately heated, we loaded the 285-square-inch grate with all our meat at once.
5 Portable Grills for All Your Outdoor Cooking Needs|Amy Marturana Winderl|September 2, 2020|Outside Online
Simultaneous increases in equity and volatility gauges are unusual, and a reason for concern for some.
The stock market is hitting new records—but a warning signal called the ‘VIX’ is flashing|Lee Clifford|August 27, 2020|Fortune
They assess how financially healthy a company is and act as an independent gauge, letting investors in a company know how likely that company is to pay back its debt, for instance.
Environment Report: The Latest Power Struggles for SDG&E and Sempra|MacKenzie Elmer|June 29, 2020|Voice of San Diego

Use this activity from NASA to design and build your own rain gauge.
Let’s learn about rain|Bethany Brookshire|June 17, 2020|Science News For Students
It took the entire day, but the slow pace indicated that it was probably a test to gauge public reaction.
The Monuments Men of Occupy Hong Kong|Brendon Hong|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So, he approached his nomadic friends to gauge their interest in the collaboration.
London’s Pagan Counterculture Kings|Justin Jones|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To gauge his level of truthfulness, I asked, “So, you wouldn't mind if I included your donor identification number in the story?”
Today’s Sperm Donor Isn’t a Broke 20-Something|Stephanie Fairyington|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The only gauge of normality that young people have is their observation of each other.
Kids Don’t Know How Overweight They Really Are|Russell Saunders|July 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When a soldier is hit by an IED the gauge records the event.
How a Thumb-Sized Gauge Is Revolutionizing Traumatic Brain Injuries|Brian Castner|March 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The gauge of railways in Great Britain was not fixed upon any scientific principle.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
Trevithick determined in future to use two safety-valves, and also a safety steam-gauge.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
The Commonwealth has for some time been considering the conversion of the lines into one standard gauge, the British gauge of 4ft.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
The leaf is held in one hand and the gauge and knife in the other, the edge of the leaf being drawn through the gauge.
Philippine Mats|Hugo H. Miller
For this purpose there is used in most localities a small gauge held between the thumb and index fingers.
Philippine Mats|Hugo H. Miller

British Dictionary definitions for gauge

gauge

gage

/ (ɡeɪdʒ) /

verb (tr)

to measure or determine the amount, quantity, size, condition, etc, of

to estimate or appraise; judge

to check for conformity or bring into conformity with a standard measurement, dimension, etc

noun

a standard measurement, dimension, capacity, or quantity

any of various instruments for measuring a quantitya pressure gauge

any of various devices used to check for conformity with a standard measurement

a standard or means for assessing; test; criterion

scope, capacity, or extent

the diameter of the barrel of a gun, esp a shotgun

the thickness of sheet metal or the diameter of wire

the distance between the rails of a railway track: in Britain 4 ft 8 1/2 in. (1.435 m)

the distance between two wheels on the same axle of a vehicle, truck, etc

nautical the position of a vessel in relation to the wind and another vessel. One vessel may be windward (weather gauge) or leeward (lee gauge) of the other

the proportion of plaster of Paris added to mortar to accelerate its setting

the distance between the nails securing the slates, tiles, etc, of a roof

a measure of the fineness of woven or knitted fabric, usually expressed as the number of needles used per inch

the width of motion-picture film or magnetic tape

adjective

(of a pressure measurement) measured on a pressure gauge that registers zero at atmospheric pressure; above or below atmospheric pressure5 bar gauge See also absolute (def. 10)

Derived forms of gauge

gaugeable or gageable, adjectivegaugeably or gageably, adverb

Word Origin for gauge

C15: from Old Northern French, probably of Germanic origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

gauge

OTHER WORDS FOR gauge

Origin of gauge

historical usage of gauge

OTHER WORDS FROM gauge

Words nearby gauge

Words related to gauge

How to use gauge in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gauge

gage

Derived forms of gauge

Word Origin for gauge