(chiefly technical also gage)
Translate gauge | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of gauge
noun
1an instrument or device for measuring the magnitude, amount, or contents of something, typically with a visual display of such information. a tool for checking whether something conforms to a desired dimension. a means of estimating something; a criterion or test:emigration is perhaps the best gauge of public unease
2the thickness, size, or capacity of something, especially as a standard measure, in particular. the diameter of a string, fiber, tube, etc.: [as modifier]:a fine 0.018-inch gauge wire [in combination] a measure of the diameter of a gun barrel, or of its ammunition, expressed as the number of spherical pieces of shot of the same diameter as the barrel that can be made from 1 pound (454 g) of lead: [as modifier]:a 12-gauge shotgun [in combination] the thickness of sheet metal or plastic: [as modifier]:500-gauge polyethylene the distance between the rails of a line of railroad track:the line was laid to a gauge of 2 ft. 9 in
3 (usually
the gage)
Nautical,
historical the position of a sailing vessel to windward ( weather gage) or leeward ( lee gage) of another.
verb
[with object] 1estimate or determine the magnitude, amount, or volume of:astronomers can gauge the star’s intrinsic brightness form a judgment or estimate of (a situation, mood, etc.):she is unable to gauge his mood
2measure the dimensions of (an object) with a gauge:when dry, the assemblies can be gauged exactly and planed to width (as adjective
gauged)
made in standard dimensions:gauged sets of strings
