The pattern gives a gauge of twenty stitches per four inches.
A pressure gauge is fitted to the boiler.
Use a gauge for the number of active connections.
The service exports a gauge for in-progress requests.
It is hard to gauge the risk before the data arrives.
Similar words
instrument
display
meter
mathematical convention
thickness
dial
variable choice
width
reference choice
estimate
Meanings
Measure or judge
verb
measurement
neutral
To measure something, estimate its size or amount, or judge a reaction, feeling, risk, or situation from the evidence available.
Examples
Engineers gauge the pressure before starting the test.
She gauged the crowd's reaction to the announcement.
The teacher gauged the class's understanding from the questions.
They are gauging demand for the new product.
He gauged the distance by eye.
It is hard to gauge the risk before the data arrives.
Similar words
measure
estimate
assess
judge
evaluate
size up
appraise
Measuring instrument
noun
measurement
neutral
An instrument, scale, dial, sensor, or display that measures and shows a quantity such as pressure, fuel level, depth, speed, or thickness.
Examples
The fuel gauge on the dashboard is almost empty.
A pressure gauge is fitted to the boiler.
The diver checked the depth gauge before descending.
The mechanic replaced a broken temperature gauge.
A feeler gauge measures the gap between two parts.
The display acts as a simple gauge of battery charge.
Similar words
meter
indicator
instrument
dial
sensor
measuring tool
display
Size or standard
noun
technical
neutral
A standard size, thickness, diameter, spacing, or count, especially for wire, sheet metal, railway track, firearms, needles, or stitches in fabric.
Examples
The railway uses standard gauge track.
Use the correct wire gauge for the circuit.
The pattern gives a gauge of twenty stitches per four inches.
A 12-gauge shotgun has a larger bore than a 20-gauge shotgun.
The sheet metal gauge affects how easily it bends.
The jeweler chose a thinner gauge for the earring wire.
Similar words
size
thickness
diameter
width
caliber
spacing
count
Physics convention
noun
physics
technical
A choice of mathematical description in physics or mathematics that can change without changing the observable physical situation.
Examples
The calculation is simpler after choosing a convenient gauge.
Electromagnetism can be written as a gauge theory.
A gauge transformation changes the potentials, not the measured fields.
The physicist fixed the gauge before solving the equations.
Quantum chromodynamics is a non-abelian gauge theory.
The same field can be described in more than one gauge.
Similar words
reference choice
field convention
variable choice
phase convention
mathematical convention
Monitoring metric
noun
technology
technical
A software-monitoring metric that represents a current value, such as temperature, memory use, queue length, or active requests, and may rise or fall over time.
Examples
The dashboard shows a gauge for current memory usage.
A queue-length gauge rose sharply during the outage.
Use a gauge for the number of active connections.
The temperature gauge reports the latest sensor value.
The service exports a gauge for in-progress requests.
Unlike a counter, this gauge can go back down.
Similar words
current-value metric
level metric
state metric
instantaneous metric
measurement metric
Etymology
From Anglo-French and Old North French forms connected with a measuring rod and the act of measuring. The spelling overlaps with the variant gage, which survives in some technical uses.
FAQ
What does gauge mean as a verb?
As a verb, gauge means to measure, estimate, or judge something from available evidence.
What is a gauge as a noun?
A gauge can be an instrument or display that measures something, such as a pressure gauge, fuel gauge, or depth gauge.
What does gauge mean in wire or metal sizes?
In wire, sheet metal, and similar systems, gauge means a standard size or thickness. In American wire gauge, higher numbers mean thinner wire.
What is railway gauge?
Railway gauge is the distance between the rails of a track.
What does gauge mean in knitting?
In knitting or crochet, gauge is the number of stitches and rows in a measured area of fabric.
What does gauge mean in physics?
In physics, gauge refers to a mathematical convention or symmetry where different descriptions leave the observable situation unchanged.
What is a gauge metric in software monitoring?
A gauge metric represents a current value that can go up or down, such as memory use or active requests.
Is gage the same as gauge?
Gage is a variant spelling used in some technical contexts, but gauge is the usual spelling in general English.
Comments & contributions
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