Adjacent Words

Gauge definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

GAUGE, v.t. gage.
1. To measure or to ascertain the contents of a cask or vessel, as a pipe, puncheon, hogshead, barrel, tierce or keg.
2. To measure in respect to proportion.
The vanes nicely gauged on each side--
GAUGE, n. gage. A measure; a standard of measure.
1. Measure; dimensions.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a measuring instrument for measuring and indicating a quantity such as the thickness of wire or the amount of rain etc. [syn: gauge, gage]
2: accepted or approved instance or example of a quantity or quality against which others are judged or measured or compared [syn: gauge, standard of measurement]
3: the distance between the rails of a railway or between the wheels of a train
4: the thickness of wire
5: diameter of a tube or gun barrel [syn: bore, gauge, caliber, calibre] v
1: judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time); "I estimate this chicken to weigh three pounds" [syn: estimate, gauge, approximate, guess, judge]
2: rub to a uniform size; "gauge bricks"
3: determine the capacity, volume, or contents of by measurement and calculation; "gauge the wine barrels"
4: measure precisely and against a standard; "the wire is gauged"
5: adapt to a specified measurement; "gauge the instruments"
6: mix in specific proportions; "gauge plaster"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun also gage Etymology: Middle English gauge, from Anglo-French Date: 15th century 1. a. a measurement (as of linear dimension) according to some standard or system: as (1) the distance between the rails of a railroad (2) the size of a shotgun barrel's inner diameter nominally expressed as the number of lead balls each just fitting that diameter required to make a pound <a 12-gauge shotgun> (3) the thickness of a thin material (as sheet metal or plastic film) (4) the diameter of a slender object (as wire or a hypodermic needle) (5) the fineness of a knitted fabric expressed by the number of loops per unit width b. dimensions, size c. measure 1 <surveys are a gauge of public sentiment> 2. an instrument for or a means of measuring or testing: as a. an instrument for measuring a dimension or for testing mechanical accuracy b. an instrument with a graduated scale or dial for measuring or indicating quantity 3. relative position of a ship with reference to another ship and the wind 4. a function introduced into a field equation to produce a convenient form of the equation but having no observable physical consequences Synonyms: see standard II. transitive verb also gage (gauged; also gaged; gauging; also gaging) Date: 15th century 1. a. to measure precisely the size, dimensions, or other measurable quantity of b. to determine the capacity or contents of c. estimate, judge <hard to gauge his moods> 2. a. to check for conformity to specifications or limits b. to measure off or set out

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. (US gage: see also sense 7) --n. 1 a standard measure to which certain things must conform, esp.: a the measure of the capacity or contents of a barrel. b the fineness of a textile. c the diameter of a bullet. d the thickness of sheet metal. 2 any of various instruments for measuring or determining this, or for measuring length, thickness, or other dimensions or properties. 3 the distance between a pair of rails or the wheels on one axle. 4 the capacity, extent, or scope of something. 5 a means of estimating; a criterion or test. 6 a graduated instrument measuring the force or quantity of rainfall, stream, tide, wind, etc. 7 (usu. gage) Naut. a relative position with respect to the wind. --v.tr. 1 measure exactly (esp. objects of standard size). 2 determine the capacity or content of. 3 estimate or form a judgement of (a person, temperament, situation, etc.). 4 make uniform; bring to a standard size or shape. Phrases and idioms: gauge pressure the amount by which a pressure exceeds that of the atmosphere. take the gauge of estimate. Derivatives: gaugeable adj. gauger n. Etymology: ME f. ONF gauge, gauger, of unkn. orig.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gauge Gauge, n. [Written also gage.] 1. A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard. This plate must be a gauge to file your worm and groove to equal breadth by. --Moxon. There is not in our hands any fixed gauge of minds. --I. Taylor. 2. Measure; dimensions; estimate. The gauge and dimensions of misery, depression, and contempt. --Burke. 3. (Mach. & Manuf.) Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the dimensions or forms of things; a templet or template; as, a button maker's gauge. 4. (Physics) Any instrument or apparatus for measuring the state of a phenomenon, or for ascertaining its numerical elements at any moment; -- usually applied to some particular instrument; as, a rain gauge; a steam gauge. 5. (Naut.) (a) Relative positions of two or more vessels with reference to the wind; as, a vessel has the weather gauge of another when on the windward side of it, and the lee gauge when on the lee side of it. (b) The depth to which a vessel sinks in the water. --Totten. 6. The distance between the rails of a railway. Note: The standard gauge of railroads in most countries is four feet, eight and one half inches. Wide, or broad, gauge, in the United States, is six feet; in England, seven feet, and generally any gauge exceeding standard gauge. Any gauge less than standard gauge is now called narrow gauge. It varies from two feet to three feet six inches. 7. (Plastering) The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to accelerate its setting. 8. (Building) 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. Gauge of a carriage, car, etc., the distance between the wheels; -- ordinarily called the track. Gauge cock, a stop cock used as a try cock for ascertaining the height of the water level in a steam boiler. Gauge concussion (Railroads), the jar caused by a car-wheel flange striking the edge of the rail. Gauge glass, a glass tube for a water gauge. Gauge lathe, an automatic lathe for turning a round object having an irregular profile, as a baluster or chair round, to a templet or gauge. Gauge point, the diameter of a cylinder whose altitude is one inch, and contents equal to that of a unit of a given measure; -- a term used in gauging casks, etc. Gauge rod, a graduated rod, for measuring the capacity of barrels, casks, etc. Gauge saw, a handsaw, with a gauge to regulate the depth of cut. --Knight. Gauge stuff, a stiff and compact plaster, used in making cornices, moldings, etc., by means of a templet. Gauge wheel, a wheel at the forward end of a plow beam, to determine the depth of the furrow. Joiner's gauge, an instrument used to strike a line parallel to the straight side of a board, etc. Printer's gauge, an instrument to regulate the length of the page. Rain gauge, an instrument for measuring the quantity of rain at any given place. Salt gauge, or Brine gauge, an instrument or contrivance for indicating the degree of saltness of water from its specific gravity, as in the boilers of ocean steamers. Sea gauge, an instrument for finding the depth of the sea. Siphon gauge, a glass siphon tube, partly filled with mercury, -- used to indicate pressure, as of steam, or the degree of rarefaction produced in the receiver of an air pump or other vacuum; a manometer. Sliding gauge. (Mach.) (a) A templet or pattern for gauging the commonly accepted dimensions or shape of certain parts in general use, as screws, railway-car axles, etc. (b) A gauge used only for testing other similar gauges, and preserved as a reference, to detect wear of the working gauges. (c) (Railroads) See Note under Gauge, n., 5. Star gauge (Ordnance), an instrument for measuring the diameter of the bore of a cannon at any point of its length. Steam gauge, an instrument for measuring the pressure of steam, as in a boiler. Tide gauge, an instrument for determining the height of the tides. Vacuum gauge, a species of barometer for determining the relative elasticities of the vapor in the condenser of a steam engine and the air. Water gauge. (a) A contrivance for indicating the height of a water surface, as in a steam boiler; as by a gauge cock or glass. (b) The height of the water in the boiler. Wind gauge, an instrument for measuring the force of the wind on any given surface; an anemometer. Wire gauge, a gauge for determining the diameter of wire or the thickness of sheet metal; also, a standard of size. See under Wire.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gauge Gauge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gauged; p. pr. & vb. n. Gauging] [OF. gaugier, F. jauger, cf. OF. gauge gauge, measuring rod, F. jauge; of uncertain origin; perh. fr. an assumed L. qualificare to determine the qualities of a thing (see Qualify); but cf. also F. jalon a measuring stake in surveying, and E. gallon.] [Written also gage.] 1. To measure or determine with a gauge. 2. To measure or to ascertain the contents or the capacity of, as of a pipe, barrel, or keg. 3. (Mech.) To measure the dimensions of, or to test the accuracy of the form of, as of a part of a gunlock. The vanes nicely gauged on each side. --Derham. 4. To draw into equidistant gathers by running a thread through it, as cloth or a garment. 5. To measure the capacity, character, or ability of; to estimate; to judge of. You shall not gauge me By what we do to-night. --Shak.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(gauges, gauging, gauged) 1. If you gauge the speed or strength of something, or if you gauge an amount, you measure or calculate it, often by using a device of some kind. He gauged the wind at over thirty knots... Distance is gauged by journey time rather than miles. VERB: V n, V n 2. A gauge is a device that measures the amount or quantity of something and shows the amount measured. ...temperature gauges. ...pressure gauges. N-COUNT: oft n N 3. If you gauge people's actions, feelings, or intentions in a particular situation, you carefully consider and judge them. ...as he gauged possible enemy moves and his own responses... = assess VERB: V n 4. A gauge of someone's feelings or a situation is a fact or event that can be used to judge them. The index is the government's chief gauge of future economic activity. = measure N-SING: usu N of n 5. A gauge is the distance between the two rails on a railway line. ...a narrow gauge railway. N-COUNT: usu n N 6. A gauge is the thickness of something, especially metal or wire. N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Measure (a cask, etc.), find the contents of, ascertain the capacity of. 2. Measure (as to ability), estimate. II. n. 1. Measure, standard, means of estimating. 2. Measure, measuring instrument, carpenter's gauge.

Moby Thesaurus

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