Gauge vs. Size — What's the Difference?

An instrument that measures and gives a visual display of the amount, level, or contents of something

Size in general is the magnitude or dimensions of a thing. More specifically, geometrical size (or spatial size) can refer to linear dimensions (length, width, height, diameter, perimeter), area, or volume.

The thickness, size, or capacity of something, especially as a standard measure.

The relative extent of something; a thing's overall dimensions or magnitude; how big something is

The position of a sailing ship to windward (the weather gage) or leeward (the lee gage) of another

Each of the classes, typically numbered, into which garments or other articles are divided according to how large they are

Estimate or determine the amount, level, or volume of

A gelatinous solution used in glazing paper, stiffening textiles, and preparing plastered walls for decoration.

Measure the dimensions of (an object) with a gauge

Alter or sort in terms of size or according to size

The distance between the two rails of a railroad.

Estimate or measure something's dimensions

The distance between two wheels on an axle.

Treat with size to glaze or stiffen

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

Having a specified size; sized

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

The physical dimensions, proportions, magnitude, or extent of an object.

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

Any of a series of graduated categories of dimension whereby manufactured articles, such as shoes and clothing, are classified.

A standard or scale of measurement

Considerable extent, amount, or dimensions

An instrument for measuring the dimensions, capacity, or amount of something

Relative amount or number, as of population or contents

A means of estimating or evaluating; a test

Character, value, or status with reference to relative importance or the capacity to meet given requirements

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

The actual state of affairs

To measure the dimensions, capacity, proportions, or amount of (something), especially by means of a gauge

Any of several gelatinous or glutinous substances usually made from glue, wax, or clay and used as a glaze or filler for porous materials such as paper, cloth, or wall surfaces.

To evaluate or estimate

To arrange, classify, or distribute according to size.

To adapt or make conform to a specified standard

To make, cut, or shape to a required size.

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

To treat or coat with size or a similar substance.

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

Sized. Often used in combination

Of or relating to a gauge.

An assize.

(Physics) Invariant under a local transformation.

(obsolete) A regulation determining the amount of money paid in fees, taxes etc.

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

(obsolete) A fixed standard for the magnitude, quality, quantity etc. of goods, especially food and drink.

An act of measuring.

The dimensions or magnitude of a thing; how big something is.

An estimate.

(obsolete) A regulation, piece of ordinance.

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

A specific set of dimensions for a manufactured article, especially clothing.

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

(graph theory) A number of edges in a graph.

(rail) track gauge

Degree of rank, ability, character, etc.

(rail) loading gauge

An instrument consisting of a number of perforated gauges fastened together at one end by a rivet, used for measuring the size of pearls

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

A thin, weak glue used as primer for paper or canvas intended to be painted upon.

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

Wallpaper paste.

(nautical) Relative positions of two or more vessels with reference to the wind.

The thickened crust on coagulated blood.

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

Any viscous substance, such as gilder's varnish.

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

(transitive) To adjust the size of; to make a certain size.

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.

(transitive) To classify or arrange by size.

(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.

(military) To take the height of men, in order to place them in the ranks according to their stature.

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

(mining) To sift (pieces of ore or metal) in order to separate the finer from the coarser parts.

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

To approximate the dimensions, estimate the size of.

Cannabis.

(intransitive) To take a greater size; to increase in size.

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

To order food or drink from the buttery; hence, to enter a score, as upon the buttery book.

(transitive) To estimate.

To swell; to increase the bulk of.

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

(transitive) To apply glue or other primer to a surface which is to be painted.

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

Six.

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

A thin, weak glue used in various trades, as in painting, bookbinding, paper making, etc.

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

Any viscous substance, as gilder's varnish.

To measure or determine with a gauge.

A settled quantity or allowance. See Assize.

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

An allowance of food and drink from the buttery, aside from the regular dinner at commons; - corresponding to battel at Oxford.

To measure the dimensions of, or to test the accuracy of the form of, as of a part of a gunlock.

Extent of superficies or volume; bulk; bigness; magnitude; as, the size of a tree or of a mast; the size of a ship or of a rock.

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

Figurative bulk; condition as to rank, ability, character, etc.; as, the office demands a man of larger size.

To measure the capacity, character, or ability of; to estimate; to judge of.

A conventional relative measure of dimension, as for shoes, gloves, and other articles made up for sale.

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

An instrument consisting of a number of perforated gauges fastened together at one end by a rivet, - used for ascertaining the size of pearls.

Measure; dimensions; estimate.

To cover with size; to prepare with size.

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

To fix the standard of.

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.

To adjust or arrange according to size or bulk.

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.

To swell; to increase the bulk of.

The distance between the rails of a railway.

To bring or adjust anything exactly to a required dimension, as by cutting.

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

To take greater size; to increase in size.

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.

To order food or drink from the buttery; hence, to enter a score, as upon the buttery book.

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

The physical magnitude of something (how big it is);

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

The property resulting from being one of a series of graduated measurements (as of clothing);

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

Any glutinous material used to fill pores in surfaces or to stiffen fabrics;

The thickness of wire

The actual state of affairs;

Diameter of a tube or gun barrel

A large magnitude;

Judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time);

Cover or stiffen or glaze a porous material with size or sizing (a glutinous substance)

Rub to a uniform size;

Sort according to size

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

Make to a size; bring to a suitable size

Measure precisely and against a standard;

(used in combination) sized;

Adapt to a specified measurement;

Mix in specific proportions;