judge

noun

• 1a public officer appointed to decide cases in a law court: he is due to appear before a judge and jury on Monday a High Court Judge
• a person who decides the results of a competition: a distinguished panel of judges select the winning design
• a person able or qualified to give an opinion on something:she was a good judge of character

• 2a leader having temporary authority in ancient Israel in the period between Joshua and the kings. See also Judges.

verb

• form an opinion or conclusion about:a production can be judged according to the canons of aesthetic criticism [with clause]:it is hard to judge whether such opposition is justified [no object]:judging from his letters home, Monty was in good spirits
• decide (a case) in a law court:other cases were judged by tribunal
• [with object and complement] give a verdict on (someone) in a law court:she was judged innocent of murder
• decide the results of (a competition): she was there to judge the contest