GAGE


Meaning of GAGE in English

I. gage /ɡeɪdʒ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]

an American spelling of ↑ gauge

II. gauge 1 BrE AmE ( also gage American English ) /ɡeɪdʒ/ noun [countable]

[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old North French ]

1 . INSTRUMENT an instrument for measuring the size or amount of something

fuel/temperature/pressure etc gauge

The petrol gauge is still on full.

2 . WIDTH/THICKNESS a measurement of the width or thickness of something such as wire or metal:

a 27-gauge needle

heavy-gauge black polythene

3 . a gauge of something something that helps you make a judgment about a person or situation:

Retail sales are a gauge of consumer spending.

The tests will give parents a gauge of how their children are doing.

4 . RAILWAY the distance between the lines of a railway or between the wheels of a train:

a standard gauge railway

broad/narrow gauge (=with more/less than the standard distance between the rails)

5 . GUN the width of the ↑ barrel of a gun:

a 12-gauge shotgun

• • •

COLLOCATIONS

■ NOUN + gauge

▪ a fuel gauge ( also petrol gauge British English ), gas gauge AmE:

The fuel gauge read a little over half full.

▪ a pressure gauge

He checked the pressure gauge on the oxygen cylinder.

▪ a temperature gauge

The oil temperature gauge was twice its normal reading.

▪ a depth gauge

A depth gauge is essential for telling you how deep you are when diving.

■ verbs

▪ check the gauge

Steve checked the oil gauge.

▪ the gauge shows something

The gauge showed an abnormal increase in radiation.

▪ the gauge reads something (=it shows something)

The petrol gauge read empty.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.