Difference Wiki

Gage vs. Gauge

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.

Key Differences

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.
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.
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.
A stream gage is different than an earth-pressure gauge in functioning.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 24, 2015
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.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 24, 2015
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.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 24, 2015
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There are other meanings of gage, and it can be a spelling variant of gauge, as well.
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.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 24, 2015
Gage is a root in many English words such as engage, wage, and mortgage.

Gage and Gauge Definitions

Gage

Something deposited or given as security against an obligation; a pledge.

Gauge

The distance between the two rails of a railroad.

Gage

Something, such as a glove, that is offered or thrown down as a pledge or challenge to fight.
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Gauge

The distance between two wheels on an axle.

Gage

A challenge.

Gauge

The interior diameter of a shotgun barrel as determined by the number of lead balls of a size exactly fitting the barrel that are required to make one pound. Often used in combination
A 12-gauge shotgun.

Gage

Any of several varieties of plum, such as the greengage.

Gauge

The thickness or diameter of sheet metal, wire, or a similar manufactured material or piece.

Gage

Variant of gauge.
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Gauge

The fineness of knitted cloth as measured by the number of stitches per a given unit of length.

Gage

To pledge as security.

Gauge

A standard or scale of measurement
The capacity of barrels was measured according to the gauge in use at the time.

Gage

To offer as a stake in a bet; wager.

Gauge

An instrument for measuring the dimensions, capacity, or amount of something
A pressure gauge.
A fuel gauge.

Gage

To bind by pledge, or security; to engage.

Gauge

A means of estimating or evaluating; a test
A gauge of character.

Gage

(archaic) To wager, to bet.

Gauge

(Nautical) The position of a vessel in relation to another vessel and the wind.

Gage

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

Gauge

To measure the dimensions, capacity, proportions, or amount of (something), especially by means of a gauge
Gauged the thickness of the metal part.

Gage

(US) gauge {{gloss}}

Gauge

To evaluate or estimate
Gauge a person's interest.

Gage

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

Gauge

To adapt or make conform to a specified standard
Pressure valves that are gauged to industry requirements.

Gage

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

Gauge

To chip or rub (bricks or stones) to size.

Gage

(US) gauge {{gloss}}

Gauge

To stretch (a pierced earlobe or other body part) by inserting progressively larger objects over a long period of time.

Gage

A subspecies of plum, Prunus domestica subsp. italica.

Gauge

Of or relating to a gauge.

Gage

A pledge or pawn; something laid down or given as a security for the performance of some act by the person depositing it, and forfeited by nonperformance; security.
Nor without gages to the needy lend.

Gauge

(Physics) Invariant under a local transformation.

Gage

A glove, cap, or the like, cast on the ground as a challenge to combat, and to be taken up by the accepter of the challenge; a challenge; a defiance.

Gauge

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

Gage

A variety of plum; as, the greengage; also, the blue gage, frost gage, golden gage, etc., having more or less likeness to the greengage. See Greengage.

Gauge

An act of measuring.

Gage

To give or deposit as a pledge or security for some act; to wage or wager; to pawn or pledge.
A moiety competentWas gaged by our king.

Gauge

An estimate.

Gage

To bind by pledge, or security; to engage.
Great debtsWherein my time, sometimes too prodigal,Hath left me gaged.

Gauge

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

Gage

Street names for marijuana

Gauge

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

Gage

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

Gauge

(rail) track gauge

Gage

Place a bet on;
Which horse are you backing?
I'm betting on the new horse

Gauge

(rail) loading gauge

Gauge

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

Gauge

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

Gauge

(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.

Gauge

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

Gauge

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

Gauge

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.

Gauge

(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.

Gauge

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

Gauge

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

Gauge

Cannabis.

Gauge

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

Gauge

(transitive) To estimate.

Gauge

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

Gauge

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

Gauge

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

Gauge

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

Gauge

To measure or determine with a gauge.

Gauge

To measure or to ascertain the contents or the capacity of, as of a pipe, barrel, or keg.

Gauge

To measure the dimensions of, or to test the accuracy of the form of, as of a part of a gunlock.
The vanes nicely gauged on each side.

Gauge

To draw into equidistant gathers by running a thread through it, as cloth or a garment.

Gauge

To measure the capacity, character, or ability of; to estimate; to judge of.
You shall not gauge meBy what we do to-night.

Gauge

A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard.
This plate must be a gauge to file your worm and groove to equal breadth by.
There is not in our hands any fixed gauge of minds.

Gauge

Measure; dimensions; estimate.
The gauge and dimensions of misery, depression, and contempt.

Gauge

Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the dimensions or forms of things; a templet or template; as, a button maker's gauge.

Gauge

Any instrument or apparatus for measuring the state of a phenomenon, or for ascertaining its numerical elements at any moment; - usually applied to some particular instrument; as, a rain gauge; a steam gauge.

Gauge

Relative positions of two or more vessels with reference to the wind; as, 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.

Gauge

The distance between the rails of a railway.

Gauge

The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to accelerate its setting.

Gauge

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.

Gauge

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

Gauge

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

Gauge

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

Gauge

The thickness of wire

Gauge

Diameter of a tube or gun barrel

Gauge

Judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time);
I estimate this chicken to weigh three pounds

Gauge

Rub to a uniform size;
Gauge bricks

Gauge

Determine the capacity, volume, or contents of by measurement and calculation;
Gauge the wine barrels

Gauge

Measure precisely and against a standard;
The wire is gauged

Gauge

Adapt to a specified measurement;
Gauge the instruments

Gauge

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”.

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