Gage vs. Gauge

Main Difference

Gauge is a word that is used to refer to measuring instruments that measure a physical characteristic of an object. Gage is a word that has two meanings, one of which is pledge. This means it is used to refer to a surety or an item that is deposited in lieu of a loan. The word has the same root as we find in engage and wage. Engage reflects one’s promise to marry or the willingness to enter an agreement. The root also finds use in mortgage.

Gage vs. Gauge — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Gage and Gauge

Gage vs. Gauge

As verbs the difference between gage and gauge is that gage is (obsolete) to give or deposit as a pledge or security; to pawn or gage can be (gauge) to measure while gauge is to measure or determine with a gauge; to measure the capacity.

Gage vs. Gauge

As nouns the difference between gage and gauge is that gage is something, such as a glove or other pledge, thrown down as a challenge to combat (now usually figurative) or gage can be a variety of plum while gauge is a measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard.

Gage vs. Gauge

Gauge is used more in conjunction with a device that has moving parts, and gage seems to be used more with devices that don't have moving parts, i.e., jo-blocks, ring or plug thread gages, etc.

Gage vs. Gauge

When the unit of measure is taken by direct reckoning, use gage. When there's a dial or something else that moves in response to external force (or stress) use gauge.

Gage vs. Gauge

A stream gage is different than an earth-pressure gauge in functioning.

Gage vs. Gauge

Though there are people who use the spelling gage for a measuring instrument, the correct word is gauge that is used both as a noun as well as verb.

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Gage vs. Gauge

There are other meanings of gage, and it can be a spelling variant of gauge, as well.

Gage vs. Gauge

Gage is a root in many English words such as engage, wage, and mortgage.

Gage vs. Gauge

It appears that "gage" has become a colloquialism for "gauge", presumably because of laziness & poor spelling. In reality, they both have clear different meanings in terms of definition and function.

Gageverb

(obsolete) To give or deposit as a pledge or security; to pawn.

Gaugenoun

A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard

Gageverb

(archaic) To wager, to bet.

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Gaugenoun

An act of measuring.

Gageverb

To bind by pledge, or security; to engage.

Gaugenoun

Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the level, state, dimensions or forms of things

Gageverb

(US) lang=en to measure

Gaugenoun

A thickness of sheet metal or wire designated by any of several numbering schemes.

Gagenoun

Something, such as a glove or other pledge, thrown down as a challenge to combat (now usually figurative).

Gaugenoun

(rail transport) The distance between the rails of a railway.

Gagenoun

(obsolete) Something valuable deposited as a guarantee or pledge; security, ransom.

Gaugenoun

A semi-norm; a function that assigns a non-negative size to all vectors in a vector space.

Gagenoun

alternative spelling of gauge|from=US alternativea measure, instrument for measuring, etc.

Gaugenoun

(knitting) The number of stitches per inch, centimetre, or other unit of distance.

Gagenoun

A subspecies of plum, Prunus domestica subsp. italica.

Gaugenoun

(nautical) Relative positions of two or more vessels with reference to the wind.

A vessel has the weather gauge of another when on the windward side of it, and the lee gauge when on the lee side of it.

Gagenoun

street names for marijuana

Gaugenoun

(nautical) The depth to which a vessel sinks in the water.

Gagenoun

a measuring instrument for measuring and indicating a quantity such as the thickness of wire or the amount of rain etc.

Gaugenoun

(plastering) The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to make it set more quickly.

Gageverb

place a bet on;

Which horse are you backing?I'm betting on the new horse

Gaugenoun

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.

Gaugenoun

(firearms) 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.

Gaugenoun

A shotgun (synecdoche for 12 gauge shotgun, the most common chambering for combat and hunting shotguns).

Gaugenoun

A tunnel-like ear piercing consisting of a hollow ring embedded in the lobe.

Gaugeverb

(transitive) To measure or determine with a gauge; to measure the capacity of.

Gaugeverb

(transitive) To estimate.

Gaugeverb

(transitive) To appraise the character or ability of; to judge of.

Gaugeverb

To draw into equidistant gathers by running a thread through it.

Gaugeverb

(transitive) To mix (a quantity of ordinary plaster) with a quantity of plaster of Paris.

Gaugeverb

(transitive) To chip, hew or polish (stones, bricks, etc) to a standard size and/or shape.

Gaugenoun

a measuring instrument for measuring and indicating a quantity such as the thickness of wire or the amount of rain etc.

Gaugenoun

accepted or approved instance or example of a quantity or quality against which others are judged or measured or compared

Gaugenoun

the distance between the rails of a railway or between the wheels of a train

Gaugenoun

the thickness of wire

Gaugenoun

diameter of a tube or gun barrel

Gaugeverb

judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time);

I estimate this chicken to weigh three pounds

Gaugeverb

rub to a uniform size;

gauge bricks

Gaugeverb

determine the capacity, volume, or contents of by measurement and calculation;

gauge the wine barrels

Gaugeverb

measure precisely and against a standard;

the wire is gauged

Gaugeverb

adapt to a specified measurement;

gauge the instruments

Gaugeverb

mix in specific proportions;

gauge plaster

What is Gage?

Gage is also referred as gauge at some places with the definition of a device used for measurement. Gage is something, such as a glove or other pledge, thrown down as a challenge to combat (now usually figurative) or gage can be a variety of plum. Gage is (obsolete) to give or deposit as a pledge or security; to pawn or gage can be (gauge) to measure

What is Gauge?

A gauge can be described as “a device for measuring a physical quantity”, for example “to determine thickness, gap in space, diameter of materials, or pressure of flow”, or “a device that displays the measurement of a monitored system by the use of a needle or pointer that moves along a calibrated scale”.