wire gauge

American  

noun

1. a gauge calibrated for determining the diameter of wire.

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wire-gauge British  

noun

1. a flat plate with slots in which standard wire sizes can be measured

2. a standard system of sizes for measuring the diameters of wires

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Etymology

Origin of wire gauge

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

A wire’s size is referred to as the wire gauge.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2021

And fences must meet strict criteria on height, wire gauge and post spacing.

From Washington Times • Nov. 23, 2015

The thicknesses of circular saws is designated in terms of the Birmingham wire gauge, whose numbers and thicknesses are shown in Fig.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua

A simple wire gauge is usually formed of a piece of steel containing numerous notches, whose widths are equal to the intended thickness to be measured in each respective notch.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua

Fortunately, however, so far as magnet wire is concerned, the so-called Brown and Sharpe, or American, wire gauge is almost universally employed in this country.

From Cyclopedia of Telephony & Telegraphy Vol. 1 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. by Miller, Kempster