gauge

¹gauge

noun \ˈgāj\

Definition of GAUGE

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 dialect 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

Variants of GAUGE

gauge also gage \ˈgāj\

Examples of GAUGE

1. The broadest gauge of the economy—the gross domestic product, adjusted for inflation—has risen little more than 4% since the recovery began. —Alfred L. Malabre, Jr., Wall Street Journal, 26 July 1993

Origin of GAUGE

Middle English gauge, from Anglo-French

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Railroad Terms

cowcatcher, cupola, vestibule, yard

Rhymes with GAUGE

age, cage, gage, Gage, mage, page, rage, sage, stage, swage, wage