gage
gage — noun
1. a less common spelling of 'gauge'; any device or standard used to tell you a phy
a less common spelling of 'gauge'; any device or standard used to tell you a physical dimension — something like how wide a railway line is, how thick a sheet of metal is, or how large around a wire or shotgun barrel is.
Quan checked the air pressure in the tires with a metal gage.
countable noun: a measuring instrument
Standard rail gage in most countries is one thousand four hundred thirty-five millimeters.
The hunter bought a 12-gage shotgun for bird shooting in the countryside.
When ordering twenty-gage steel sheets, tell the supplier the exact size you need.
A pressure gage on the boiler showed that the steam level was dangerously high.
- gauge
standard modern spelling; 'gage' is a variant
- measurement
broader term that can describe any quantified dimension
- standard
focuses on the fixed reference system rather than the instrument
文法句型
number-gage + noun (attributive)
adjective + gage
用法筆記
This sense is identical in meaning to 'gauge,' which is the more common spelling in modern English. You will most often see 'gage' in technical writing about metal thickness, wire diameter, shotgun bore size, and railway track width.
2. something valuable that a borrower gives to a lender as a promise that a loan wi
something valuable that a borrower gives to a lender as a promise that a loan will be repaid; if the borrower fails to repay, the lender may keep or sell it to recover the money owed.
The merchant left his gold pocket watch as a gage for the loan.
as a gage: given as security for a loan
The business loan required a gage, so Shanti offered her diamond necklace.
Under the contract, the family land served as a gage for the debt.
The bank held the jewelry as a gage until the customer repaid the full amount.
Elena left her pearl earrings with Mr. Okonkwo as a gage for shop repairs.
- collateral
far more common in modern finance; refers to any asset backing a loan
- security
broad legal term for anything pledged to guarantee repayment
- pledge
emphasizes the act of giving a gage as a promise
文法句型
as a gage
give/leave + something + as a gage
用法筆記
Common in legal and financial documents. In modern everyday English, words like 'collateral' or 'security' are far more frequent. You may also see 'gage' in historical texts about old lending practices.
常見錯誤
gage — verb
1. to give something valuable to a lender as a guarantee that you will repay a loan
to give something valuable to a lender as a guarantee that you will repay a loan or fulfil a legal obligation — if the borrower defaults, the lender can take the item.
The company gaged its factory equipment to obtain new financing from the bank.
gage + object: give as security
Christopher gaged his grandfather's antique coin collection as security for the loan.
The farmland was gaged to the bank in exchange for a mortgage.
Small business owners sometimes gage their personal property to raise funds for a new venture.
- pledge
the modern equivalent; more common in both everyday and legal use
- pawn
specific to leaving an item at a pawn shop in exchange for cash
- mortgage
specific to using property as security for a loan
- hypothecate
a technical legal term meaning to pledge without physical delivery
文法句型
gage + something
gage + something + as security
用法筆記
Almost exclusively found in legal and historical contexts. In modern English, 'pledge' or 'mortgage' are used instead for most situations. This verb is often found in historical documents describing how land or goods were used to secure loans.
常見錯誤
2. to risk money, reputation, or something of value on the outcome of an uncertain
to risk money, reputation, or something of value on the outcome of an uncertain event, especially by placing a bet.
The gambler gaged his entire fortune on the result of a single horse race.
gage + fortune + on [event]: risk by betting
Dahlia was not ready to gage her reputation on the start-up's success.
Emre gaged his career prospects by joining an untested technology firm.
No careful investor would gage their savings on such a risky business plan.
文法句型
gage + something + on + noun
gage + something
用法筆記
Historically used for literal gambling, but also appears in figurative contexts where someone risks their reputation or career. In modern English, 'bet,' 'stake,' 'gamble,' and 'risk' are far more common. This sense of 'gage' is found mostly in literary or historical writing.