noun “gauge”
sg. gauge, pl. gauges or uncountable
- a tool used to find out how much of something there is
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The gas gauge in the car showed that the tank was almost empty.
- something that helps you guess or make a judgment about another thing
The number of people attending the concert will be a good gauge of the band's popularity.
- the specific thickness of materials like metal sheets or wires
The metal sheet we need for the project should be 18-gauge to ensure it's strong enough.
- the space between the tracks on a railway or between the wheels on a train
The train couldn't run on the new tracks because the gauge was different from the standard size.
- in terms of shotguns, it refers to the size of the gun barrel based on how many lead balls that fit the barrel's diameter would weigh one pound
He bought a 20-gauge shotgun, which means 20 lead balls of its bore size would weigh one pound.
verb “gauge”
gauge; he gauges; past gauged, part. gauged; ger. gauging
- to make a guess or an estimate about something
She tried to gauge how much food they would need for the party.
- to use a tool to find out the size or amount of something
The mechanic used a tool to gauge the pressure in the car's tires.