Gage vs. Gauge: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Gage refers to a pledge or something given as a security, while gauge is a measurement tool or standard.
Key Differences
Gage primarily means something given as security for a promise, often used in historical contexts. In contrast, gauge is a term widely used in various fields to denote a measurement device or unit, such as a pressure gauge or a gauge of thickness.
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Nov 15, 2023
The word gage can also signify a challenge, especially in medieval times when a glove was thrown down as a challenge to a duel. Gauge, however, relates to assessing or determining the amount, level, or capacity of something, like fuel gauge in vehicles.
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Nov 15, 2023
In legal terms, gage can refer to a token of surrender or forfeiture. Meanwhile, gauge is employed in technical and scientific contexts, indicating precision instruments used for measurement, like rain gauges in meteorology.
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Nov 15, 2023
Gage appears less frequently in modern usage and retains a more symbolic or historical connotation. Gauge, on the other hand, is prevalent in everyday language, especially in technical, mechanical, and scientific domains.
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Nov 15, 2023
In literature, gage can symbolize honor or commitment, often seen in historical or literary narratives. Gauge is more functional, used to describe tools for systematic measurement, crucial in engineering, construction, and various scientific applications.
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Nov 15, 2023
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Gage and Gauge Definitions
Gage
A sign of a wager or bet.
He placed his watch as a gage in the card game.
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Nov 15, 2023
Gauge
A standard dimension or measurement.
The wire was 12-gauge, thick enough for the project.
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Nov 15, 2023
Gage
A token of challenge or pledge.
He threw down his glove as a gage of battle.
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Nov 15, 2023
Gauge
To estimate or judge the extent of something.
He tried to gauge her reaction to the news.
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Nov 15, 2023
Gage
Something given as security for a promise.
The ring served as a gage for his return.
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Nov 15, 2023
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Gauge
To make a judgment or calculation.
She gauged the distance before making the jump.
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Gage
A symbol of surrender or forfeiture in legal terms.
The land was given as a gage to settle the dispute.
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Nov 15, 2023
Gage
Something deposited or given as security against an obligation; a pledge.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gage
Something, such as a glove, that is offered or thrown down as a pledge or challenge to fight.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
The thickness or diameter of sheet metal, wire, or a similar manufactured material or piece.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
The fineness of knitted cloth as measured by the number of stitches per a given unit of length.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
A standard or scale of measurement
The capacity of barrels was measured according to the gauge in use at the time.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
An instrument for measuring the dimensions, capacity, or amount of something
A pressure gauge.
A fuel gauge.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
(Nautical) The position of a vessel in relation to another vessel and the wind.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
To measure the dimensions, capacity, proportions, or amount of (something), especially by means of a gauge
Gauged the thickness of the metal part.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
To adapt or make conform to a specified standard
Pressure valves that are gauged to industry requirements.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gage
Something, such as a glove or other pledge, thrown down as a challenge to combat (now usually figurative).
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Oct 19, 2023
Gage
(obsolete) Something valuable deposited as a guarantee or pledge; security, ransom.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
To stretch (a pierced earlobe or other body part) by inserting progressively larger objects over a long period of time.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the level, state, dimensions or forms of things
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Oct 19, 2023
Gage
To bind by pledge, or security; to engage.
Great debtsWherein my time, sometimes too prodigal,Hath left me gaged.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
A thickness of sheet metal or wire designated by any of several numbering schemes.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gage
A measuring instrument for measuring and indicating a quantity such as the thickness of wire or the amount of rain etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gage
Place a bet on;
Which horse are you backing?
I'm betting on the new horse
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
A semi-norm; a function that assigns a non-negative size to all vectors in a vector space.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gage
A token representing honor or commitment.
In the novel, the knight’s sword was a gage of his loyalty.
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Nov 15, 2023
Gauge
(knitting) The number of stitches per inch, centimetre, or other unit of distance.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
(plastering) The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to make it set more quickly.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
A shotgun (synecdoche for 12 gauge shotgun, the most common chambering for combat and hunting shotguns).
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Gauge
A tunnel-like ear piercing consisting of a hollow ring embedded in the lobe.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
(transitive) To measure or determine with a gauge; to measure the capacity of.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
(transitive) To mix (a quantity of ordinary plaster) with a quantity of plaster of Paris.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
(transitive) To chip, hew or polish (stones, bricks, etc) to a standard size and/or shape.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
To measure or to ascertain the contents or the capacity of, as of a pipe, barrel, or keg.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
To draw into equidistant gathers by running a thread through it, as cloth or a garment.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
To measure the capacity, character, or ability of; to estimate; to judge of.
You shall not gauge meBy what we do to-night.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
Measure; dimensions; estimate.
The gauge and dimensions of misery, depression, and contempt.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the dimensions or forms of things; a templet or template; as, a button maker's gauge.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to accelerate its setting.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
A measuring instrument for measuring and indicating a quantity such as the thickness of wire or the amount of rain etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
Accepted or approved instance or example of a quantity or quality against which others are judged or measured or compared
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
The distance between the rails of a railway or between the wheels of a train
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
Judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time);
I estimate this chicken to weigh three pounds
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
Determine the capacity, volume, or contents of by measurement and calculation;
Gauge the wine barrels
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Oct 19, 2023
Gauge
An instrument for measuring or testing.
The fuel gauge indicated the tank was nearly empty.
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Nov 15, 2023
Gauge
A means of assessing level or quantity.
The temperature gauge showed a significant drop.
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Nov 15, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is a gage in historical context?
A token used as a pledge, often in medieval times.
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Nov 15, 2023
Can gage signify a challenge?
Yes, historically it represented a challenge, like a duel.
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Nov 15, 2023
How is gauge used in measurements?
A tool or standard used for measurement in various fields.
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Nov 15, 2023
What does gauge mean in engineering?
In engineering, it refers to instruments measuring dimensions or pressures.
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Nov 15, 2023
What does gauge mean in science?
In science, it refers to instruments for precise measurements, like a rain gauge.
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Nov 15, 2023
Is gage commonly used in modern language?
No, it's less common and often seen in historical or symbolic contexts.
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Nov 15, 2023
How does gauge apply in meteorology?
Used for instruments like rain gauges for weather measurement.
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Nov 15, 2023
Can gage imply legal forfeiture?
Yes, it can symbolize legal surrender or forfeiture.
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Nov 15, 2023
Can gauge be used to estimate non-physical things?
Yes, it can imply estimating or judging something abstract.
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Nov 15, 2023
How is gauge used in the automotive industry?
Commonly used for instruments like fuel gauges in vehicles.
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Nov 15, 2023
Does gage have a role in modern legal terms?
Rarely, it's mostly historical or symbolic now.
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Nov 15, 2023
What is a symbolic use of gage in history?
Often a symbol of honor or challenge, like a knight's glove.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Is gage a common term in current English?
No, it’s more archaic and less frequently used.
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Nov 15, 2023
What is a gauge in railways?
Refers to the distance between the rails in a railway track.
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Nov 15, 2023
Is gage used in literature?
Yes, often symbolizing honor or commitment in literary works.
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Nov 15, 2023
Can gauge mean to assess a situation?
Yes, it can mean to assess or estimate a situation or condition.
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Nov 15, 2023
What is a pressure gauge?
A device for measuring the pressure of liquids or gases.
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Nov 15, 2023
Does gage have a meaning in finance?
Not commonly, it's more historical or symbolic.
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Nov 15, 2023
Can gauge refer to wire thickness?
Yes, it refers to the thickness or size, like in wire gauge.
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Nov 15, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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