I. 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.
II. gauge 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1 . to judge how people feel about something or what they are likely to do
gauge whether/what/how etc
It is difficult to gauge what the other party’s next move will be.
I looked at Chris, trying to gauge his reaction.
2 . to measure or calculate something by using a particular instrument or method:
The thermostat will gauge the temperature and control the heat.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ judge to form an opinion about someone or something, using your knowledge, experience, and intelligence:
He will judge whether the project has been a success.
|
It’s difficult to judge how long the work will take.
▪ assess to judge how good, bad, successful etc someone or something is, especially by using a fixed set of standards. Assess is often used about measuring students’ abilities and performance:
Are tests and exams the best way to assess students’ progress?
|
The insurance company will send someone to assess the damage.
▪ evaluate to judge how good, bad, successful etc someone or something is, especially by carefully examining all the information about them. Evaluate is often used about the work of people doing research:
The data from the study is still being evaluated.
|
The test is used to evaluate the effects of pesticides on domestic bees.
▪ gauge ( also gage American English ) formal to judge people’s opinions or feelings about something, or to measure the effect, importance etc of something. Gauge is often used when talking about getting a general idea of what something is like:
A meeting was arranged in order to gauge the opinions of pupils, parents and teachers.
|
It' s too early to gauge the impact of the oil price rises on people’s spending.
|
Without further information it is impossible to gauge the full extent of the problem.
▪ appraise formal to judge how successful, effective etc someone or something is, especially by comparing their good and bad points:
Twice a year, managers appraise the performance of employees.
|
This research aims to appraise the effectiveness of different kinds of public sector financial assistance.
|
On what basis will a teacher be appraised?