gauge
gauge — verb
1. to take an exact reading of the size, amount, speed, or pressure of something wi
to take an exact reading of the size, amount, speed, or pressure of something with a tool such as a ruler, thermometer, or pressure meter
Amani used a thermometer to gauge the temperature of the bath water before getting in.
gauge + noun phrase with measuring tool
The mechanic gauged the depth of the tyre tread with a small plastic tool.
gauge the depth of [something]
Karim held a tape measure against the log to gauge its diameter before cutting it.
The weather station uses special equipment to gauge wind speed throughout the day.
- gauge the depth
- gauge the temperature
- gauge the diameter
- gauge the speed
Grammar Patterns
gauge + noun phrase
gauge + wh-clause
Usage Note
Often used with the name of the instrument (thermometer, pressure gauge, ruler) in the same sentence.
Common Mistakes
2. to form an opinion about a situation, someone's feelings, or the likely result o
to form an opinion about a situation, someone's feelings, or the likely result of something, often by noticing small signs or behaviour
Stephanie tried to gauge her manager's mood before asking for a day off.
gauge + someone's mood / feelings
It is hard to gauge how much food we will need for the party on Saturday.
gauge + how much / how many / whether
Hannah paused to gauge whether anyone at the table was upset by her comment.
gauge + whether-clause
Teachers use short quizzes to gauge what students have already learned before starting a new topic.
- gauge the mood
- gauge public opinion
- gauge someone's reaction
- gauge the level of interest
Grammar Patterns
gauge + noun phrase
gauge + whether/wh-clause
Usage Note
Unlike 'measure', this sense does not involve a physical instrument. The object is often an abstract thing: mood, reaction, opinion, ability, or need. Frequently used with whether, how much, how many, or what.
Common Mistakes
3. to gradually enlarge the hole in one's earlobe by inserting increasingly larger
to gradually enlarge the hole in one's earlobe by inserting increasingly larger jewellery or spacers over time
Lukas has been gauging his ears for two years and now wears wooden tunnels.
gauge + ears / earlobes (body modification)
The piercer told Brooke not to gauge her ears too quickly to avoid tearing the skin.
Sari decided to gauge only her left earlobe because she prefers a mismatched look.
Karim watched a tutorial before gauging his own ears to make sure he did it safely.
- gauge your ears
- gauge your earlobes
- started gauging
- gauging too quickly
Grammar Patterns
gauge + noun phrase (earlobe / ear)
Usage Note
Used almost exclusively for ear piercing. The process requires patience — stretching too fast can cause injury.
gauge — noun
1. a tool with a numbered scale or screen that tells you the size, amount, pressure
a tool with a numbered scale or screen that tells you the size, amount, pressure, or speed of whatever you want to check
The rain gauge in the garden showed that fifty millimetres had fallen overnight.
rain gauge / fuel gauge / pressure gauge — compound nouns for specific measuring tools
A fuel gauge on the dashboard tells the driver how much petrol the car has left.
Kabir checked the pressure gauge before inflating the balloons for the children's party.
The old temperature gauge on the boiler is hard to read because the numbers have faded.
- check a gauge
- read a gauge
- the gauge shows
- fuel gauge
- pressure gauge
- temperature gauge
Usage Note
Often combined with a noun that names what is being measured: rain gauge, fuel gauge, pressure gauge, temperature gauge, speed gauge.
2. a small device that measures the amount of air inside a tyre, used to check whet
a small device that measures the amount of air inside a tyre, used to check whether the tyre has the correct pressure for safe driving
Jude used a tyre gauge to check if the car's back wheels needed more air.
tyre gauge — compound noun for car maintenance
A digital tyre gauge is easier to read than the old stick type with a sliding marker.
Hao keeps a small tyre gauge in the glove box for long road trips across the state.
Before a long trip, the driver checked each tyre with a portable gauge to ensure safe pressure.
- tyre gauge
- use a tyre gauge
- check with a tyre gauge
- digital tyre gauge
Usage Note
In American English, the spelling is 'tire gauge'. This sense overlaps with sense 1 (MEASURING DEVICE) but is worth listing separately because 'tyre gauge' is a very common compound that learners encounter frequently.
3. the exact spacing from one steel rail to the other on a train line, measured bet
the exact spacing from one steel rail to the other on a train line, measured between the inner edges of the two rails
The railway line in this region uses standard gauge, so most trains can run on it.
standard gauge / narrow gauge / broad gauge — common collocations
Japan's high-speed trains run on a different gauge from the older local railway lines.
Engineers checked the gauge of the track before allowing the new freight trains through the tunnel.
Mountain railways in the Alps often use narrow gauge because the curves are too tight for standard trains.
narrow gauge — specific collocation for mountainous terrain
- standard gauge
- narrow gauge
- broad gauge
- change the gauge
Usage Note
Tracks can be 'standard gauge', 'narrow gauge', or 'broad gauge'. Most of the world's railways use standard gauge.
4. a standard measure of how thick a piece of material is, especially wire, sheet m
a standard measure of how thick a piece of material is, especially wire, sheet metal, or a surgical needle — a smaller number means a thicker material
The electrician chose a cable with a thicker gauge to handle the higher electrical current.
thicker gauge / thinner gauge — comparative forms
This jewellery wire comes in several gauges, from very thin for delicate work to quite thick for sturdy rings.
A fourteen-gauge piercing needle is thicker than a twenty-gauge needle and creates a larger hole.
The artist used a very fine gauge of wire to create delicate loops in the necklace.
- wire gauge
- thicker gauge
- thinner gauge
- gauge number
- different gauges
Usage Note
In the gauge system for metal and wire, a higher number means a thinner material. For example, 20-gauge wire is thinner than 14-gauge wire. This is the opposite of what many learners expect.
Common Mistakes
5. the width of the hollow space inside a tube, pipe, or gun barrel, measured acros
the width of the hollow space inside a tube, pipe, or gun barrel, measured across its diameter
The plumber chose a pipe with a wider gauge to improve the water flow through the kitchen.
wider gauge / narrow gauge — describing pipe interior diameter
The engineer measured the gauge of the steel tube before welding it onto the frame of the scaffolding.
Pipes with a larger gauge allow more liquid to pass through at a lower pressure.
The factory replaced its old pipes with ones of a wider gauge to handle increased production.
- larger gauge
- wider gauge
- pipe gauge
- barrel gauge
Usage Note
For gun barrels, gauge is expressed by a number followed by '-gauge' (e.g. 'twelve-gauge shotgun'). For pipes and tubes, it is usually described in millimetres or inches.
6. something that helps you form an opinion or make a judgment about a situation, e
something that helps you form an opinion or make a judgment about a situation, especially about how successful, popular, or serious something is
The number of job applications a company receives is a good gauge of its reputation among workers.
gauge of [something] — abstract measurement
Teachers use test results as a gauge of how well the class has understood the material.
Public opinion polls provide a useful gauge of how people feel about the proposed changes to the law.
The number of passengers on the bus is often a rough gauge of how busy the route will be later.
- a gauge of
- a good gauge
- a useful gauge
- a reliable gauge
- a rough gauge
Grammar Patterns
gauge of [something]
Usage Note
Always followed by 'of'. The phrase 'a gauge of [something]' is the standard pattern. Common in business and academic contexts.
7. an opening through the soft lower part of the ear that has been intentionally wi
an opening through the soft lower part of the ear that has been intentionally widened so that larger ornaments can be put through it
Tamar's ear gauges are now so large that she can see light through the holes.
ear gauge — meaning the stretched hole itself
If you remove the jewellery and leave the stretched hole empty, it may shrink over time.
The piercer said the stretched hole in her left lobe had healed well with no signs of infection.
After five years of wearing gauges, Tamar decided to let the hole in her left ear close up naturally.
- ear gauge
- stretched gauge
- heal a gauge
- shrink a gauge
Usage Note
In body-modification communities, 'gauge' can refer either to the stretched hole (this sense) or to the jewellery worn in it (sense 8). Context usually makes the meaning clear.
8. an ornament worn inside an enlarged ear-piercing hole, typically ring-shaped, tu
an ornament worn inside an enlarged ear-piercing hole, typically ring-shaped, tunnel-shaped, or disc-shaped, and crafted from materials such as wood, metal, stone, or silicone
Rodrigo bought a pair of wooden ear gauges hand-carved by an artisan in Thailand.
pair of ear gauges — common collocation for jewellery
Sari's silver gauges have a delicate leaf pattern etched into the surface by a jeweller.
For the fashion show, the model wore transparent silicone gauges that looked like glass tunnels.
The jewellery stall at the market sold handmade brass gauges with intricate patterns etched into the metal.
- ear gauge
- pair of gauges
- wooden gauges
- silicone gauges
- tunnel gauge
- plug gauge
- ear tunnel
specifically a hollow gauge that shows the skin inside
- ear plug
a solid gauge that fills the hole completely
Usage Note
Common types of ear gauges include tunnels (hollow rings), plugs (solid discs), and saddles (half-tapered). They are usually sold and worn in pairs.
9. a suffix added after a number to indicate the internal width of a tube, gun barr
a suffix added after a number to indicate the internal width of a tube, gun barrel, or needle according to a standard scale — a higher number means a narrower diameter
A twelve-gauge shotgun fires a larger shell than a twenty-gauge shotgun does.
number + -gauge + noun — combining form for bore size
The nurse used an eighteen-gauge needle to draw the patient's blood for testing.
For the repair job, the mechanic chose a ten-gauge wire because it conducts enough current safely.
Hunters often prefer a twelve-gauge shotgun for bird shooting because of its wide spread pattern.
- -gauge shotgun
- -gauge needle
- -gauge wire
- 12-gauge
- 18-gauge
- 20-gauge
- calibre
used for gun barrels, expressed in millimetres or inches rather than a numbered scale
Grammar Patterns
number + -gauge + noun
Usage Note
This form always appears hyphenated with a number before a noun (e.g. 'twelve-gauge shotgun', 'twenty-gauge needle'). Learners should memorise that a lower number = a wider diameter, which is the opposite of what intuition suggests.