gauge

plural gauges · alternative US gage

1. countableuncountableA measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard

   1780, Edmund Burke, speech at The Guildhall, in Bristol the gauge and dimensions of misery, depression, and contempt

   1 more example

   The record of philosophy vis-à-vis silence is generally dismal, as good a gauge as any to its overall failure.

   2008 Spring/Summer, John Zerzan, “Silence”, in Green Anarchy, number 25

2. countableuncountableAn act of measuring.
3. countableuncountableAn estimate.
4. countableuncountableAny instrument for ascertaining or regulating the level, state, dimensions or forms of things
5. countableuncountableA thickness of sheet metal or wire designated by any of several numbering schemes, with lower numbers indicating larger size.
6. abbreviationcountableellipsisuncountablerail transportEllipsis of track gauge.

   It was Locke who concisely won the argument for a standardised gauge of 4ft 8½ inches over Brunel's 7ft 0 ¼in preference. […] Today, over 60% of the world's railways use that gauge.

   2023 August 23, David E Norris, “Joseph Locke: a railway injustice...”, in RAIL, number 990, page 57

7. abbreviationcountableellipsisuncountablerail transportEllipsis of loading gauge.
8. countableuncountablemathematical analysisA semi-norm; a function that assigns a non-negative size to all vectors in a vector space.
9. countableuncountablebusinessThe number of stitches per inch, centimetre, or other unit of distance.
10. countableuncountablenauticalRelative positions of two or more vessels with reference to the wind.

    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.

11. countableuncountablenauticalThe depth to which a vessel sinks in the water.
12. countableuncountableplasteringThe quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to make it set more quickly.
13. countableuncountableThat 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. countableuncountableengineeringA 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. USbroadlycountableslanguncountableA shotgun (synecdoche for 12 gauge shotgun, the most common chambering for combat and hunting shotguns).

    I'm talking about cocking a gauge in between your eyes.

    1992, “A Nigga Witta Gun”, in The Chronic, performed by Dr. Dre, Death Row Records

    2 more examples

    I'm tryin to find ways to cope / But I ain't fuckin' round with the gauge or a rope

    1996, “Illusions”, in Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom, performed by Cypress Hill

    It happens everyday don't make me grab the gauge / Dangerously I play, I best to kill with the gauge / And put ya body in the back of that grey Chevrolet

    2000, “Grab The Gauge”, in Underground Vol. 3: Kings of Memphis, performed by Three 6 Mafia

16. countableuncountableA tunnel-like ear piercing consisting of a hollow ring embedded in the lobe.

    Jenni didn't really look as though she fit in with the rest of the girls here, she had a nose piercing and angel bites, her long curly dark brown hair with red highlights was pulled back exposing gauges and many other ear piercings and a tattoo […]

    2013, Destiny Patterson, Samantha Beckworth, Jennifer Proctor, Arose, page 150

    Synonyms: ear gauge

17. slanguncountableCannabis.

    When we settled, he said, “You've been smoking gauge, haven't you?”

    2000, Cynthia Palmer, Michael Horowitz, Sisters of the Extreme

    1 more example

    […] smoking gauge was a new phenomenon to Himes: “When I looked up after turning the corner, all the grimy facades seemed to be a blaze of bright colors, gold, scarlet, blue, green, like an array of peacocks. […]

    1971, Black Creation, volumes 3-6, page 53

present singular third person gauges · participle present gauging · participle past gauged · past gauged · alternative US gage

1. transitiveTo measure or determine with a gauge; to measure the capacity of.
2. transitiveTo estimate.
3. transitiveTo appraise the character or ability of; to judge of.

   You shall not gauge me / By what we do to-night.

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]

4. transitivetextileTo draw into equidistant gathers by running a thread through it.
5. transitiveTo mix (a quantity of ordinary plaster) with a quantity of plaster of Paris.
6. transitiveTo chip, hew or polish (stones, bricks, etc) to a standard size and/or shape.

1. A male given name.