- to determine the exact dimensions, capacity, quantity, or force of; measure.
- to appraise, estimate, or judge.
- to make conformable to a standard.
- to mark or measure off; delineate.
- to gradually stretch (a pierced body part, such as the earlobe) by wearing increasingly large objects in the opening: I started gauging my ears recently and am having them stretched every two weeks.
- to prepare or mix (plaster) with a definite proportion of plaster of Paris and mortar.
- to chip or rub (bricks or stones) to a uniform size or shape.
- a standard of measure or measurement.
- a standard dimension, size, or quantity.
- any device or instrument for measuring, registering measurements, or testing something, especially for measuring a dimension, quantity, or mechanical accuracy: pressure gauge;marking gauge.
- a means of estimating or judging; criterion; test.
- extent; scope; capacity: trying to determine the gauge of his own strength.
- a plug, stud, or other piece of jewelry worn in a pierced body part in order to stretch it: He had a silver and black gauge in his ear, centered in the elongated lobe.
- a standard size of such a piercing or piece of jewelry, in a system in which a lower number indicates a larger diameter (often used in combination): I recently went from a 10-gauge to an 8-gauge tongue piercing.Once you reach a certain gauge, your holes probably won’t shrink down to their original size.
- a unit of measure of the internal diameter of a shotgun barrel, determined by the number of spherical lead bullets of a diameter equal to that of the bore that are required to make one pound: a twelve-gauge shotgun.
- the distance between the inner edges of the heads of the rails in a track, usually 4 feet 8.5 inches (1.4 meters) (standard gauge ), but sometimes more (broad gauge ) and sometimes less (narrow gauge ).
- the distance between a pair of wheels on an axle.
- the thickness or diameter of various, usually thin, objects, as the thickness of sheet metal or the diameter of a wire or screw.
- the fineness of a knitted fabric as expressed in loops per every 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters): 15 denier, 60 gauge stockings.
- the position of one vessel as being to the windward (weather gauge ) or to the leeward (lee gauge ) of another vessel on an approximately parallel course.
- the portion of the length of a slate, tile, etc., left exposed when laid in place.
- the amount of plaster of Paris mixed with mortar or common plaster to hasten the set.
- to measure or determine the amount, quantity, size, condition, etc, of
- to estimate or appraise; judge
- to check for conformity or bring into conformity with a standard measurement, dimension, etc
- a standard measurement, dimension, capacity, or quantity
- any of various instruments for measuring a quantity
- any of various devices used to check for conformity with a standard measurement
- a standard or means for assessing; test; criterion
- scope, capacity, or extent
- the diameter of the barrel of a gun, esp a shotgun
- the thickness of sheet metal or the diameter of wire
- the distance between the rails of a railway track: in Britain 4 ft 8 1/2 in. (1.435 m)
- the distance between two wheels on the same axle of a vehicle, truck, etc
- the position of a vessel in relation to the wind and another vessel. One vessel may be windward (weather gauge) or leeward (lee gauge) of the other
- the proportion of plaster of Paris added to mortar to accelerate its setting
- the distance between the nails securing the slates, tiles, etc, of a roof
- a measure of the fineness of woven or knitted fabric, usually expressed as the number of needles used per inch
- the width of motion-picture film or magnetic tape
- (of a pressure measurement) measured on a pressure gauge that registers zero at atmospheric pressure; above or below atmospheric pressure
