# gauge

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɡeɪd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #6,912

## Definitions
1. A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard
2. An act of measuring.
3. An estimate.
4. Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the level, state, dimensions or forms of things
5. A thickness of sheet metal or wire designated by any of several numbering schemes, with lower numbers indicating larger size.
6. Ellipsis of track gauge.
7. Ellipsis of loading gauge.
8. A semi-norm; a function that assigns a non-negative size to all vectors in a vector space.
9. The number of stitches per inch, centimetre, or other unit of distance.
10. Relative positions of two or more vessels with reference to the wind.
11. The depth to which a vessel sinks in the water.
12. The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to make it set more quickly.
13. That part of a shingle, slate, or tile, which is exposed to the weather, when laid; also, one course of such shingles, slates, or tiles.
14. A unit of measurement which describes how many spheres of bore diameter of a shotgun can be had from one pound of lead; 12 gauge is roughly equivalent to .75 caliber.
15. A shotgun (synecdoche for 12 gauge shotgun, the most common chambering for combat and hunting shotguns).
16. A tunnel-like ear piercing consisting of a hollow ring embedded in the lobe.
17. Cannabis.

## Etymology
From Middle English gauge, gaugen, from Anglo-Norman, Old Northern French gauger (compare Modern French jauger from Old French jaugier), from gauge (“gauging rod”), from Frankish *galga (“measuring rod, pole”), from Proto-Germanic *galgô (“pole, stake, cross”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰalgʰ-, *ǵʰalg- (“perch, long switch”). Cognate with Old High German galgo, Old Frisian galga, Old English ġealga (“cross-beam, gallows”), Old Norse galgi (“cross-beam, gallows”), Old Norse gelgja (“pole, perch”). Doublet of gallows.

## Easily confused with
- **gave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-gave)
- **glue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-glue)
- **gaze** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-gaze)
- **Gaul** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-gaul)
- **Gaye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-gaye)
- **gorge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-gorge)
- **Gayle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-gayle)
- **Gough** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-gough)
- **gaunt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-gaunt)
- **gauze** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-gauze)
- **gauss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-gauss)
- **gouge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-gouge)
- **grudge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-grudge)
- **grange** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-grange)
- **grunge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gauge-vs-grunge)
- **gag** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gag-vs-gauge)
- **game** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/game-vs-gauge)
- **gang** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gang-vs-gauge)
- **gale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gale-vs-gauge)
- **gaga** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaga-vs-gauge)

## Common misspellings (6)
`aguge`, `gague`, `gaueg`, `gaugge`, `ggauge`, `guage`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/gauge