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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use gauge in a sentence

The new process is aimed at helping issuers and their advisers gauge demand, especially for high-growth companies subject to wide differences in valuation among investors, the people said.
Airbnb, DoorDash raise prices ranges ahead of blockbuster week for IPOs|Claire Zillman, reporter|December 7, 2020|Fortune
Maybe just listening to the unboastful Fullers yields a gauge of how the past half-century has seen the American respect for the female athlete hatch, then wobble, then gallop.
Sarah Fuller made history. Her parents understand why her moment matters.|Chuck Culpepper|December 3, 2020|Washington Post
In the case of AlphaFold 2, what DeepMind has done instead is build in a confidence gauge, which asks AlphaFold 2 to say how confident it is in its own predictions for each part of the protein structure.
Lessons from DeepMind’s breakthrough in protein-folding A.I.|Jeremy Kahn|December 1, 2020|Fortune
Germany’s DAX index plans its most sweeping overhaul since its inception, adding 10 new companies and new quality controls after the implosion of Wirecard AG rocked investor confidence in the gauge.
Reeling from the Wirecard scandal, Germany’s DAX is getting its largest overhaul ever|kdunn6|November 24, 2020|Fortune

The ongoing averages offer a continuously updated gauge of overall support for each candidate.
How The Washington Post’s polling average works|Scott Clement, Emily Guskin|October 16, 2020|Washington Post
The Pew survey also gauged opinion on more women becoming the primary breadwinner.
Pew Study Shows Women Leading Breadwinners in 40 Percent of Households|CNBC|May 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And because the Pentagon gauged CERP a success, a similar initiative is under way in Afghanistan.
SIGIR Audit Finds Some U.S. CERP Funds Went to Insurgents in Iraq|Eli Lake|April 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton favors a broad-gauged address as soon as possible.
The Israel-Palestine Vote Igniting the Mideast|Leslie H. Gelb|April 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The other elephant, however, gauged the distance and came upon him again with great momentum.
Kari the Elephant|Dhan Gopal Mukerji
Grout is thin liquid mortar, and is legitimately used in gauged arches and other work when fine joints are desired.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
Gauged work has very thin joints, as shown at H, formed by dipping the side of the brick in white lime putty.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
Arches in brickwork may be classed under three heads: plain arches, rough-cut and gauged.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
Gauged brickwork is set in lime putty instead of common mortar; the finished joints should not be more than 1/32 in.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various

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 related to gauge

How to use gauge in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gauge

gage

Derived forms of gauge

Word Origin for gauge