gauge

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard
2. (countable, uncountable) An act of measuring.
3. (countable, uncountable) An estimate.
4. (countable, uncountable) Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the level, state, dimensions or forms of things
5. (countable, uncountable) A thickness of sheet metal or wire designated by any of several numbering schemes, with lower numbers indicating larger size.
6. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of track gauge.
7. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of loading gauge.
8. (countable, uncountable) A semi-norm; a function that assigns a non-negative size to all vectors in a vector space.
9. (countable, uncountable) The number of stitches per inch, centimetre, or other unit of distance.
10. (countable, uncountable) Relative positions of two or more vessels with reference to the wind.
11. (countable, uncountable) The depth to which a vessel sinks in the water.
12. (countable, uncountable) The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to make it set more quickly.
13. (countable, uncountable) That part of a shingle, slate, or tile, which is exposed to the weather, when laid; also, one course of such shingles, slates, or tiles.
14. (countable, uncountable) A unit of measurement which describes how many spheres of bore diameter of a shotgun can be had from one pound of lead; 12 gauge is roughly equivalent to .75 caliber.
15. (US, broadly, countable, slang, uncountable) A shotgun (synecdoche for 12 gauge shotgun, the most common chambering for combat and hunting shotguns).
16. (countable, uncountable) A tunnel-like ear piercing consisting of a hollow ring embedded in the lobe.
17. (slang, uncountable) Cannabis.

Verb

1. (transitive) To measure or determine with a gauge; to measure the capacity of.
2. (transitive) To estimate.
3. (transitive) To appraise the character or ability of; to judge of.
4. (transitive) To draw into equidistant gathers by running a thread through it.
5. (transitive) To mix (a quantity of ordinary plaster) with a quantity of plaster of Paris.
6. (transitive) To chip, hew or polish (stones, bricks, etc) to a standard size and/or shape.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɡeɪd͡ʒ/

Etymology

Cognate with French: jauger

Cognate with Old French: jaugier

Cognate with Old High German: galgo

Cognate with Old Frisian: galga

Cognate with Old English: ġealga

Cognate with Old Norse: galgi

Cognate with Old Norse: gelgja

In summary

From Middle English gauge, gaugen, from Anglo-Norman, Old Northern French gauger (compare Modern French jauger from Old French jaugier), from gauge (“gauging rod”), from Frankish *galga (“measuring rod, pole”), from Proto-Germanic *galgô (“pole, stake, cross”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰalgʰ-, *ǵʰalg- (“perch, long switch”). Cognate with Old High German galgo, Old Frisian galga, Old English ġealga (“cross-beam, gallows”), Old Norse galgi (“cross-beam, gallows”), Old Norse gelgja (“pole, perch”). Doublet of gallows.

Synonyms

gage

measure

estimate

meter

judge

🧑‍⚖️

rate

assess

evaluate

appraise

value

scale

assay

dimension

bore

indicator

fathom

calibre

calibrate

calculate

like

appreciate

index

standard

pointer

track

magnitude

caliber

think well of

survey

think highly of

size

approximate

prize

determine

mark

weigh

love

❤️

standard of measurement

fancy

figure

extent

esteem

enjoy

test

sound

🔉

probe

proportion

quantify

have a high regard for

counter

Translations

estimar

estimar

avaliar

valutare

abschätzen

apreciar

taxar

schatten

apreciar

oceniać

schätzen

einschätzen

🧑‍⚖️

Maß

Messgerät

jauge