gauge

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

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

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

the thickness of wire

diameter of a tube or gun barrel

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

rub to a uniform size; “gauge bricks”

determine the capacity, volume, or contents of by measurement and calculation; “gauge the wine barrels”

measure precisely and against a standard; “the wire is gauged”

adapt to a specified measurement; “gauge the instruments”

mix in specific proportions; “gauge plaster”