gauge
gb/ɡˈeɪd͡ʒ/ us/ɡˈeɪd͡ʒ/
B2
Inglês
~ 6300
Acepções
0 acepção
Verbo
B2
action
1
carefully estimate amount or mood
to guess something carefully, using information or experience, not an exact measurement
Padrão de uso:
to gauge [something]
Erro comum:
Learners often use only "guess" where English speakers prefer the more careful, thoughtful idea of "gauge" or "assess" in formal or semi-formal contexts. Another common mistake is using an object that does not fit this sense, for example, saying *"gauge a number"* when they mean to calculate it exactly; in that case, "calculate" or "measure" is better.
Sinônimos
assess (more formal; often used in business, academic, or official contexts)
|
estimate (focuses more on approximate amount or number, less on feeling or reaction)
|
judge (can sound more personal or subjective than "gauge")
Antônimos
ignore (to pay no attention instead of carefully considering something)
|
misjudge (to judge something wrongly instead of gauging it accurately)
Colocações
gauge the mood
|gauge interest
|gauge reaction
|gauge public opinion
|gauge the impact
|gauge demand
Temas
thinking
|communication
|business
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- It’s hard to gauge how customers will respond to the new design.
- The manager tried to gauge the mood of the team before announcing the changes.
- Politicians use social media to gauge public opinion on major issues.
- We need to gauge interest before we invest money in the project.
- From his silence, I couldn’t gauge whether he agreed or not.
Exemplos para estudantes
- The teacher wants to gauge what the students already know.
- I looked at her face to gauge if she was happy.
- The company sent a survey to gauge customer interest.
- It is difficult to gauge how long the work will take.
- He asked many questions to gauge my level of English.
Verbo
B2
action
2
measure exactly with a device
to measure how big, deep, or strong something is, usually with a special tool
Padrão de uso:
to gauge [size/pressure/temperature]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use "gauge" here when a simpler verb like "measure" is more natural in everyday English. Also, they may forget that this sense usually needs a physical thing as an object, so phrases like *"gauge the happiness"* belong to the more figurative sense of judging, not this measuring-with-a-tool sense.
Sinônimos
measure (more general and common; does not always suggest a special instrument)
|
test (emphasizes checking performance or safety, not just size or amount)
|
check (less formal and less precise; often used in everyday speech instead of "gauge")
Antônimos
guess (to say an amount without using any measurement or tool)
Colocações
gauge the pressure
|gauge the temperature
|gauge the thickness
|gauge the distance
|gauge the depth
|carefully gauged
Temas
science
|technology
|work
Exemplos
- Technicians use this device to gauge the pressure inside the pipes.
- Before painting, you should gauge the moisture level in the wall.
- The engineer gauged the thickness of the metal sheets.
- Divers must gauge the depth carefully before going down further.
- We need to gauge the temperature of the engine to avoid overheating.
Exemplos para estudantes
- He used a tool to gauge the size of the hole.
- The mechanic gauged the pressure in the car tires.
- You should gauge the depth of the water before you jump.
- The doctor gauged my blood oxygen level with a small device.
- Workers gauged the distance between the two buildings.
Substantivo
B2
entity
3
instrument that shows an amount
a tool or part of a machine that shows how much of something there is, like fuel, heat, or pressure
Padrão de uso:
a [type] gauge
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse "gauge" (the device) with the verb "to gauge" (to measure or estimate). They may also spell it incorrectly as *"gage"*, which is a less common variant and usually not used in this sense.
Sinônimos
meter (a very close synonym; often used in electricity and gas contexts)
|
indicator (a more general word for something that shows information, not always a physical dial)
Colocações
fuel gauge
|pressure gauge
|temperature gauge
|water gauge
|oil gauge
|dashboard gauge
Temas
technology
|transport
|science
Exemplos
- The fuel gauge on my car is broken, so I never know when the tank is empty.
- Check the pressure gauge to make sure the boiler is safe.
- The temperature gauge shows that the engine is overheating.
- Most modern aircraft have digital gauges instead of old-style dials.
- The water gauge on the side of the tank helps you see how full it is.
Exemplos para estudantes
- I looked at the fuel gauge and saw it was on empty.
- The pressure gauge shows if the air in the tire is low.
- There is a temperature gauge on the oven door.
- The car has many gauges on the dashboard.
- The oil gauge tells the driver if there is a problem.
Substantivo
technical
C1
quantity
4
standard size or thickness rating
a number or name that shows how thick, wide, or big something is, like wire, needles, or rail tracks
Padrão de uso:
[number]-gauge [material]
Erro comum:
Learners may not realize that "gauge" here is a technical standard, not just a casual description. They might say *"a big gauge wire"* instead of the more natural *"a heavier gauge wire"* or use "gauge" where a simple word like "size" would be clearer in non-technical contexts.
Sinônimos
thickness (describes the physical quality but is less precise and not a formal standard number)
|
size (very general; does not carry the idea of an agreed technical standard)
|
caliber (used mainly for guns and ammunition; close in meaning in those contexts)
Colocações
wire gauge
|needle gauge
|shotgun gauge
|railway gauge
|track gauge
|fine gauge
Temas
technology
|engineering
|transport
|science
Exemplos
- Use a thicker wire; this gauge is too light for that amount of current.
- The nurse chose a smaller needle gauge for the child.
- Different countries historically used different rail gauges on their train tracks.
- The pipes come in various gauges, depending on how much water they need to carry.
- These guitar strings are a heavier gauge than the ones you used before.
Exemplos para estudantes
- He bought 12-gauge wire for the project.
- The nurse asked which needle gauge I preferred.
- This shotgun uses a different gauge of ammunition.
- The two rail lines have a different gauge, so the trains cannot use both.
- We need a thicker gauge of metal for this part.
Substantivo
C1
entity
5
indicator of a level or quality
a thing that helps you understand how high, low, good, or bad something is
Padrão de uso:
a [adjective] gauge of [something]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use "gauge" by itself where a full phrase like "a good gauge of" is more natural, for example, saying *"This is a gauge"* instead of *"This is a good gauge of performance."* They may also confuse this sense with the physical device, not realizing it is being used more abstractly.
Sinônimos
indicator (very close in meaning; often used in statistics and economics)
|
measure (slightly more general; often used in phrases like "a measure of success")
|
barometer (metaphorical; often used for something that shows changes in public opinion or conditions)
Antônimos
misleading indicator (something that gives a false idea instead of a clear, helpful gauge)
Colocações
a good gauge of
|a reliable gauge of
|a useful gauge of
|a poor gauge of
|a rough gauge of
|a true gauge of
Temas
thinking
|business
|society
|core_vocabulary
|education
Exemplos
- Exam results are only one gauge of a student’s ability.
- Audience size is a useful gauge of public interest in the show.
- Your reaction is a good gauge of how ready the team is for change.
- Customer reviews can be a rough gauge of product quality.
- Crime statistics are often used as a gauge of how safe an area is.
Exemplos para estudantes
- Money is not the only gauge of success.
- Test scores are a poor gauge of real knowledge.
- The number of views is a good gauge of how popular the video is.
- This survey is a simple gauge of customer happiness.
- Attendance is a rough gauge of student interest.
Verbo
technical
C2
action
6
adjust to a chosen standard size
to change something so its size or strength is right for a special use or rule
Padrão de uso:
to be gauged to [fit/match something]
Erro comum:
This sense is less common, and learners may confuse it with the more general sense of "to gauge" meaning "to estimate". They might also try to use it transitively in places where English prefers a passive form, for example, saying *"They gauged the lesson for children"* instead of the more natural *"The lesson is gauged for children."*
Sinônimos
calibrate (emphasizes careful technical adjustment of instruments and machines)
|
size (informal verb in some contexts meaning to choose or adjust to the right size)
|
configure (focuses on arranging settings or parts to meet requirements, especially in technology)
Antônimos
misadjust (to set something in the wrong way so it does not fit the standard or purpose)
Colocações
gauged to fit
|gauged for children
|finely gauged
|properly gauged
|gauged to withstand
|gauged to capacity
Temas
technology
|engineering
|work
Exemplos
- The springs are carefully gauged to support the weight of the door.
- This content is gauged for younger audiences.
- The safety system is gauged to withstand extreme temperatures.
- The components must be precisely gauged to fit together with no gaps.
- The dosage is gauged according to the patient’s weight.
Exemplos para estudantes
- The machine is gauged to work with heavy loads.
- The lesson is gauged for beginner students.
- The walls were gauged to the correct thickness.
- The dose is gauged to the size of the animal.
- The parts are gauged so they fit perfectly.
Gramática
Forma no dicionário
gauge
AFI
GB/ɡˈeɪd͡ʒ/
US/ɡˈeɪd͡ʒ/
Sílabas e tonicidade
gauge (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (gauge)
Formas da palavra
Noun
- Base: gauge
- Plural: gauges
Verb
- Base: gauge
- 3rd Person Singular: gauges
- Present Participle: gauging
- Past: gauged
Família de palavras
Forms
gauges
noun
gauging
verb
gauged
verb
Advanced or less common
gauger
noun
Expressões
a good gauge of
1/ə ɡˈʊd ɡˈeɪd͡ʒ əv/
fixed phrase
reliable sign of level or quality
something that shows clearly how high, low, good, or bad something else is
Exemplos
- Repeat business is a good gauge of customer satisfaction.
- How quickly people respond is a good gauge of their interest.
fuel gauge
1/fjˈul ɡˈeɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
instrument showing fuel level
a part in a car, motorbike, etc. that shows how much fuel is left in the tank
Exemplos
- The fuel gauge was almost on empty, so we stopped at the next gas station.
- My car doesn’t have a working fuel gauge, so I refill it often just in case.
gauge interest
1/ɡˈeɪd͡ʒ ˈɪntɚˌɛst/
fixed phrase
estimate how interested people are
to find out how many people are interested in something and how strong their interest is
Exemplos
- We sent out a short survey to gauge interest in the new course.
- The city held a public meeting to gauge interest in the planned park.
gauge the mood
1/ɡˈeɪd͡ʒ ðə mˈud/
fixed phrase
estimate how people feel overall
to try to understand what most people in a group feel or think at a moment
Exemplos
- The coach tried to gauge the mood in the locker room after the loss.
- Before making any big changes, the manager wanted to gauge the mood of the staff.
gauge the reaction
1/ɡˈeɪd͡ʒ ðə ɹiˈækʃən/
fixed phrase
assess how people respond
to see and understand how people answer, respond, or feel after something happens
Exemplos
- They released a short video to gauge the reaction before finishing the full campaign.
- The company raised prices slightly to gauge the reaction from customers.
gauge the situation
1/ɡˈeɪd͡ʒ ðə sˌɪt͡ʃuˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
assess what is happening now
to look closely at what is happening so you can understand it and decide what to do
Exemplos
- Let’s take a moment to gauge the situation before we react.
- Rescue workers first gauged the situation and then decided where to send help.
pressure gauge
1/pɹˈɛʃɚ ɡˈeɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
technical
instrument that measures pressure
a tool that shows how strong the air or liquid pressure is inside something
Exemplos
- The technician checked the pressure gauge on the boiler.
- You can use a small pressure gauge to test your tire pressure at home.
temperature gauge
1/tˈɛmpɚɪt͡ʃɚ ɡˈeɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
instrument showing temperature
a device that shows the temperature of something, for example an engine or room
Exemplos
- Keep an eye on the temperature gauge so the engine doesn’t overheat.
- The temperature gauge on the oven shows when it is hot enough to cook.