1. 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. Moxon. There is not in our hands any fixed gauge of minds. I. Taylor.
2. Measure; dimensions; estimate. The gauge and dimensions of misery, depression, and contempt. Burke.
3. (Mach. & Manuf.)
Defn: Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the dimensions or forms of things; a templet or template; as, a button maker's gauge.
4. (Physics)
Defn: 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.
5. (Naut.) (a) 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. (b) The depth to which a vessel sinks in the water. Totten.
6. The distance between the rails of a railway.
Note: The standard gauge of railroads in most countries is four feet, eight and one half inches. Wide, or broad, gauge, in the United States, is six feet; in England, seven feet, and generally any gauge exceeding standard gauge. Any gauge less than standard gauge is now called narrow gauge. It varies from two feet to three feet six inches.
7. (Plastering)