gauge
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 gradually stretch (a pierced body part, such as the earlobe) by wearing increasingly large objects in the opening: I started gauging my ears recently and am having them stretched every two weeks.
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.
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.
a plug, stud, or other piece of jewelry worn in a pierced body part in order to stretch it: He had a silver and black gauge in his ear, centered in the elongated lobe.
a standard size of such a piercing or piece of jewelry, in a system in which a lower number indicates a larger diameter (often used in combination): I recently went from a 10-gauge to an 8-gauge tongue piercing.Once you reach a certain gauge, your holes probably won’t shrink down to their original size.
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.
Origin of gauge
1- Also especially in technical use, gage .
word story For gauge
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 for gauge
Other words from gauge
- gauge·a·ble, adjective
- gauge·a·bly, adverb
- mis·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.
- un·gauged, adjective
Words Nearby gauge
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
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 ReviewOnce 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 OnlineSimultaneous 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 | FortuneThey 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 DiegoUse this activity from NASA to design and build your own rain gauge.
It took the entire day, but the slow pace indicated that it was probably a test to gauge public reaction.
So, he approached his nomadic friends to gauge their interest in the collaboration.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTThe only gauge of normality that young people have is their observation of each other.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTThe gauge of railways in Great Britain was not fixed upon any scientific principle.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph TatlowTrevithick determined in future to use two safety-valves, and also a safety steam-gauge.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickThe 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 TatlowThe 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. MillerFor 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
gage
/ (ɡeɪdʒ) /
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
a standard measurement, dimension, capacity, or quantity
any of various instruments for measuring a quantity: a 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
(of a pressure measurement) measured on a pressure gauge that registers zero at atmospheric pressure; above or below atmospheric pressure: 5 bar gauge See also absolute (def. 10)
Origin of gauge
1Derived forms of gauge
- gaugeable or gageable, adjective
- gaugeably or gageably, adverb
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
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