From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishldoce_131_agaugegauge1 (also gage American English) /ɡeɪdʒ/ ●○○ noun [countable] 1 
instrumentTM an instrument for measuring the size or amount of somethingfuel/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 polythene3 → a gauge of something4 railwayTTT the distance between the lines of a railway or between the wheels of a train a standard gauge railwaybroad/narrow gauge (=with more/less than the standard distance between the rails)5 gunPMW the width of the barrel of a gun a 12-gauge shotgunCOLLOCATIONSNOUN + gaugea fuel gauge (also petrol gauge British English), gas gauge American English:The fuel gauge read a little over half full.a pressure gaugeHe checked the pressure gauge on the oxygen cylinder.a temperature gaugeThe oil temperature gauge was twice its normal reading.a depth gaugeA depth gauge is essential for telling you how deep you are when diving.verbscheck the gaugeSteve checked the oil gauge.the gauge shows somethingThe gauge showed an abnormal increase in radiation.the gauge reads something (=it shows something)The petrol gauge read empty.
instrumentTM an instrument for measuring the size or amount of somethingfuel/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 polythene3 → a gauge of something4 railwayTTT the distance between the lines of a railway or between the wheels of a train a standard gauge railwaybroad/narrow gauge (=with more/less than the standard distance between the rails)5 gunPMW the width of the barrel of a gun a 12-gauge shotgunCOLLOCATIONSNOUN + gaugea fuel gauge (also petrol gauge British English), gas gauge American English:The fuel gauge read a little over half full.a pressure gaugeHe checked the pressure gauge on the oxygen cylinder.a temperature gaugeThe oil temperature gauge was twice its normal reading.a depth gaugeA depth gauge is essential for telling you how deep you are when diving.verbscheck the gaugeSteve checked the oil gauge.the gauge shows somethingThe gauge showed an abnormal increase in radiation.the gauge reads something (=it shows something)The petrol gauge read empty. Examples from the Corpus
gauge• a narrow-gauge screw• a narrow-gauge track• Retail sales are a gauge of consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of economic activity.• He surprised everybody by choosing a 7 foot gauge to increase capacity and improve the ride.• He checked the contents of his billfold and prayed over his gas gauge, that it stay above Empty round-trip.• the car's gas gauge• At first glance there appears to be a preponderance of narrow gauge or what I would call miniature railways.• Key in the ignition, nothing in the glove compartment and the petrol gauge read empty.• an oil pressure gauge• The bottom of the screen houses the club selection, wind gauge, power indicator and shoot button.fuel/temperature/pressure etc gauge• I crossed and opened the door, which had a temperature gauge beside it reading forty degrees.• The exhaust-gas-temperature gauge read hot.• The driver glanced at his fuel gauge.• As we headed up Hartshead Moor, I checked my fuel gauge and started sweating again.• He noticed to his alarm that the oil temperature gauge was twice its normal reading.• She doesn ` t see the fuel gauge needle waving desperately at her, like a drowning arm.• Upon arrival, he was welcomed to Hades and the host promptly set the temperature gauge at 110 degrees.• The temperature gauge on the Studebaker was back in the red, almost to 220 again.standard gauge• The YC5 or YC6 fits both the fine and standard gauge machines.• The line was seven miles long, single track, and of standard gauge.• At least when you're knitting on the bigger gauges you have fewer rows to knit than on a fine or standard gauge.• All these accessories fit all Silver standard gauge punchcard machines.• Apart from these, the other accessories available for the standard gauge models are not available for the fine and chunky gauges.• Remove the stitches from the standard gauge machine with the garter bar and replace them on the chunky machine.• Finally, one exciting development is the electronic intarsia carriage for use with the standard gauge electronic machine. gaugegauge2 ●○○ verb [transitive] 1 MEASUREto judge how people feel about something or what they are likely to dogauge 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 TMto measure or calculate something by using a particular instrument or method The thermostat will gauge the temperature and control the heat.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
gauge• If champions are gauged by their ability to win tough fights, Marco Antonio Barrera has quite a future.• When all the figures are available, it should be possible to gauge how much we'll need to spend.• They hope to find ways to gauge the effectiveness of drug rehab programs.• Use a combination square to gauge the location and depth of the cutout.• He is testing, trying to gauge the mind of the jury.• Recent polls have gauged the president's support at 85% or more.• Bingham says they're ones for the future but how can we gauge their potential on a substitutes' bench.• Pieper tried and failed to get hold of the outfits to brief them and to gauge their reaction.• She stands there tapping that thermometer against her wrist watch, eyes whirring while she tries to gauge this new man.• Indeed, sitting through the replay it was difficult to gauge whether it was live or not.• Often sessions would include psychological tests designed to gauge workers' personality traits: extroverted, introverted, thoughtful, or driving.gauge whether/what/how etc• One way to gauge how effectively the message is getting through is to look at the numbers.• Why is the White House fretting and sending emissaries to gauge what he really wants?• It is not so easy to gauge what his emphasis on the book's Wagnerian aspect really implied.• Indeed, sitting through the replay it was difficult to gauge whether it was live or not.• This she did, gauging how much was left in the glass by the amount in the other glasses.• In Maine, people gauge whether spring has arrived not by groundhogs, but by skunks.• It relies on textbooks, repetitive problem-solving and drills to gauge what students know.• And try to gauge whether the company is well-managed by checking its balance sheet and talking to experts about its business prospects.From Longman Business Dictionarygaugegauge1 /geɪdʒ/ verb [transitive]1to measure how people feel about something or the effect that something is likely to have on themThe magazine commissioned research to gauge opinions on how British industry is meeting its environmental responsibilities.extensive testing togauge consumerreactions2to calculate what is likely to happen in the future, using a particular method or set of figuresUS retail sales will help gauge how the economy is faring.The building society hopes to gauge the likely demand for each property before the auction starts.→ See Verb tablegaugegauge2 noun [countable]1a measurement of how people feel about something or the effect that something is likely to have on themThe survey is an important gauge of attitudes and aspirations among college freshmen.2ECONOMICSa method or set of figures that helps to calculate what is likely to happen in the futureThe government’s economic forecasting gauge rose for the fifth month in a row.Origin gauge1 (1300-1400) Old North French 