Gauge
/ɡeɪdʒ/
Definitions
5 meaningsAn instrument or device for measuring or registering the magnitude, amount, or contents of something.
/ɡeɪdʒ/
An instrument for measuring something.
The fuel gauge indicated that the car was almost empty.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're baking and need to know how much flour to use. A gauge is like a tool that helps you figure out the right amount. Like a speedometer in a car!
👶 For kids: A tool that tells you how big, how much, or how full something is.
More Examples
The weather station displayed several gauges, including a rain gauge.
The engineer used a stress gauge to measure the load on the bridge.
How It's Used
"The mechanic used a tire pressure gauge to check the pressure."
"The level gauge assured the wall was perfectly vertical."
A standard of measure, especially of size or capacity, such as the thickness of wire or the bore of a gun.
/ɡeɪdʒ/
A standard of measure, size, or capacity.
The electrician used 14-gauge wire for the circuit.
💡 Simply: Sometimes things are made in different sizes, like the thickness of a wire. The gauge tells you which size you're using!
👶 For kids: A way of telling how thick or big something is.
More Examples
The shotgun's gauge indicated the size of the shells it used.
The knit fabric had a fine gauge, indicating a smooth texture.
How It's Used
"The wire comes in different gauges, indicating its thickness."
"The fabric's gauge determines its fineness."
An act of estimating or judging something, especially the extent or level of it.
/ɡeɪdʒ/
An estimation of something.
We took a gauge of public opinion on the new policy.
💡 Simply: When you 'gauge' something, you're trying to figure out how much or how good it is. Like taking the temperature of a situation or a person's mood!
👶 For kids: A guess or a check to see how something is going.
More Examples
The teacher used the quiz to gauge the students' understanding.
The survey was designed to gauge customer satisfaction.
How It's Used
"The company took a gauge of consumer sentiment before launching its campaign."
"Psychologists often use questionnaires to gauge a person's mental state."
To estimate or determine the magnitude, amount, or volume of something, or the capacity of something.
/ɡeɪdʒ/
To estimate or determine the magnitude, amount, or volume of.
The scientists gauged the impact of the storm.
💡 Simply: To 'gauge' something means to try to figure out how big it is, how much of it there is, or how good something is. Think of trying to measure how many candies are in a jar!
👶 For kids: To try and guess how much or how big something is.
More Examples
The company gauged customer interest before launching the product.
The government gauged the economic effects of the new tax.
How It's Used
"Scientists used radar to gauge the distance to the star."
"Researchers use polls to gauge public opinion."
To form a judgment or opinion about (something).
/ɡeɪdʒ/
To form an opinion about.
He tried to gauge her mood before bringing up the sensitive topic.
💡 Simply: To gauge something also means to get a sense of something, or to find out how someone might react or what they think. Similar to making an educated guess!
👶 For kids: To try to figure out how someone or something feels.
More Examples
I will gauge the overall reaction to my proposal.
She gauged their level of enthusiasm for the project.
How It's Used
"I need to gauge her reaction."
"He gauged his audience's response to the joke."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
gauge interest
To try to determine how interested people are in something.
"The company decided to gauge interest in their new product before investing heavily in production."
From Old French *jauge* (a measure), from Vulgar Latin *galia* (a unit of measure), possibly of Gaulish origin.
The word 'gauge' has been used since the 14th century, evolving from its French origins to measure things.
Memory tip
Think of the pressure gauge on a tire. It tells you the measurement.
Word Origin
"a measure"