[gauge] n [ME gauge, fr. ONF] (15c) 1 a: a measurement (as of linear dimension) according to some standard or system: as (1): the distance between the rails of a railroad (2): the size of a shotgun barrel's inner diameter nominally expressed as the number of lead balls each just fitting that diameter required to make a pound "a 12-gauge shotgun" (3): the thickness of a thin material (as sheet metal or plastic film) (4): the diameter of a slender object (as wire or a hypodermic needle) (5): the fineness of a knitted fabric expressed by the number of loops per unit width b: dimensions, size c: measure 1 "surveys are a ~ of public sentiment"
2: an instrument for or a means of measuring or testing: as a: an instrument for measuring a dimension or for testing mechanical accuracy b: an instrument with a graduated scale or dial for measuring or indicating quantity
3: relative position of a ship with reference to another ship and the wind
4: a function introduced into a field equation to produce a convenient form of the equation but having no observable physical consequences syn see standard
[2]gauge vt gauged ; gaug.ing (15c) 1 a: to measure precisely the size, dimensions, or other measurable quantity of b: to determine the capacity or contents of c: estimate, judge "hard to ~ his moods"
2. a: to check for conformity to specifications or limits b: to measure off or set out