gauge

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈgeɪdʒ/ 🇺🇸 /ˈgeɪdʒ/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A device or instrument used to measure the magnitude, amount, or contents of something, such as pressure, temperature, or dimensions.; A standard or scale of measurement; a means of estimating or judging something.; The distance between the rails of a railway track.; The diameter or thickness of a wire, sheet metal, or similar material, expressed as a number on a standard scale.; The bore or internal diameter of a firearm barrel, especially a shotgun.; The fineness of a knitted fabric, expressed as the number of stitches per unit of length.; The amount of rain that has fallen, as measured by a rain gauge.; The relative position of a sailing vessel with respect to the wind and another vessel; weather gauge or lee gauge.; A plaster cast or model used as a template in construction or manufacturing.
  2. verb
    To measure or determine the magnitude, amount, or degree of something.; To estimate or judge the nature, quality, or extent of something.; To conform to a standard or specification; to adjust or regulate.; To mix plaster with a specified proportion of water or other material.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: gauges 3rd sing.: gauges Past: gauged Past part.: gauged Pres part.: gauging

Collocations

pressure gaugefuel gaugegauge the situationgauge the reactionwire gaugebroad gaugenarrow gauge

Derivatives

gauginggauged

Synonyms

measureassessevaluateestimatejudgemeterindicator

Commonly confused

gage
EN: 'Gage' is a less common American variant spelling of 'gauge'; 'gauge' is the standard spelling in both British and American English.
gouge
EN: 'Gouge' means to cut or scoop out a groove, or to overcharge; 'gauge' means to measure or assess.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember 'gauge' is spelled g-a-u-g-e, not 'guage' (a very common transposition error). The 'au' comes before the 'g'.

💬 Examples

  1. The mechanic checked the oil gauge before starting the engine.

  2. Public opinion polls are a useful gauge of voter sentiment.

  3. The standard gauge for most railways is 1,435 millimeters.

  4. The electrician used 12-gauge wire for the circuit.

  5. He preferred a 12-gauge shotgun for hunting waterfowl.

  6. The sweater was knit at a fine gauge of 14 stitches per inch.

  7. The gauge showed three inches of rainfall overnight.

  8. The frigate held the weather gauge over the enemy ship.

  9. The mason used a gauge to ensure the arch stones were cut to the correct shape.

  10. Scientists used instruments to gauge the depth of the ocean trench.