From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgougegouge1 /ɡaʊdʒ/ verb [transitive] HOLEto make a deep hole or cut in the surface of something He took a knife and gouged a hole in the bottom of the boat. → gouge something ↔ out→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
gouge• For a few moments he stood very still, imagining himself kicking and gouging.• The blade gouged a deep wound in her leg.• A metal object was used to gouge a deep wound in the animal's forehead.• But some lawmakers who also testified accused the banks of gouging customers.• He must have been gouging for half an hour when an idea seemed to strike him.• Juanito screamed, falling, hands gouging for Trent's throat.• Bombs from the B-52s gouged huge craters in the downtown area.• She watched his fingers gouging into the smooth, stinking mud, the bottom.• Hotels are ready to gouge Olympic visitors by raising room prices.• In the play he tries to gouge out his own eyes.• Both were known for gouging the public and giving inferior service.gougegouge2 noun [countable] HOLEa hole or cut made in something, usually by a sharp tool or weaponExamples from the Corpus
gouge• He tinkered with infinity and the impossible with a burin and a gouge.• A gouge in environment is likely to attract future gouges.• Cogelow gouges don't conform to any of the standard shapes or numbering systems.• To shape the generous indentation, the wood was taken out gradually with a deep oval gouge.• He used small gouges to carve little tufts of fur with long, controlled strokes, following the marked lines.Origin gouge2 (1400-1500) French Late Latin gulbia 