gauge

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard
  2. An act of measuring.
  3. An estimate.
  4. Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the level, state, dimensions or forms of things
  5. A thickness of sheet metal or wire designated by any of several numbering schemes, with lower numbers indicating larger size.
  6. Ellipsis of track gauge.
  7. Ellipsis of loading gauge.
  8. A semi-norm; a function that assigns a non-negative size to all vectors in a vector space.
  9. The number of stitches per inch, centimetre, or other unit of distance.
  10. Relative positions of two or more vessels with reference to the wind.
  11. The depth to which a vessel sinks in the water.
  12. The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to make it set more quickly.
verb
  1. To measure or determine with a gauge; to measure the capacity of.
  2. To estimate.
  3. To appraise the character or ability of; to judge of.
  4. To draw into equidistant gathers by running a thread through it.
  5. To mix (a quantity of ordinary plaster) with a quantity of plaster of Paris.
  6. To chip, hew or polish (stones, bricks, etc) to a standard size and/or shape.
name
  1. A male given name.

Pronunciation

gāj /ˈɡeɪd͡ʒ/ en-us-gauge.ogg /ˈɡæɪd͡ʒ/

Word forms

gauge gauges gage gauging gauged

Etymology

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.

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