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

I began by saying that markets are not good gauges of our economies.
No Financial Armageddon|Zachary Karabell|October 18, 2011|DAILY BEAST
And now, inevitably, there must be critical attention paid to those faulty speed gauges.
Flight 447's Terrifying Four-and-a-Half-Minute Crash|Clive Irving|May 27, 2011|DAILY BEAST
That oil used in manufacturing the gauges had not been flushed out, and a residue remained.
The 800 Dangerous Airbus Planes in the Sky|Clive Irving|March 14, 2010|DAILY BEAST
There are three of these gauges on each Airbus, called pitot tubes.
The 800 Dangerous Airbus Planes in the Sky|Clive Irving|March 14, 2010|DAILY BEAST

This directive suggests a far more specific flaw in the Airbus air speed gauges than has been admitted before.
The 800 Dangerous Airbus Planes in the Sky|Clive Irving|March 14, 2010|DAILY BEAST
On the wall of his room was a map of the Southern States, showing by colored lines the various gauges of all the railroads.
The Boys of '61|Charles Carleton Coffin.
Some rain-gauges are constructed for showing the quantity of rain which falls from each of the four principal quarters.
The Rain Cloud|Anonymous
The observation of rain-gauges and hygrometers at the same three descriptions of locality.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. XXII (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson
To provide efficient safety-valves, steam-gauges, and other appurtenances.
A History of the Growth of the Steam-Engine|Robert H. Thurston
But one feels that he loves and hates his children as we do, and that he correctly gauges their moral value.
Essays on Modern Novelists|William Lyon Phelps

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