broad-gauge

or broad-gauged

[ brawd-geyj ]
/ ˈbrɔdˌgeɪdʒ /

adjective

Railroads. of or relating to equipment designed for a railroad having track of a broad gauge: broad-gauge rolling stock.
of wide scope, application, or experience: broad-gauge efforts to improve the health of our citizens.

Origin of broad-gauge

1835–45, for an earlier sense

Definition for broad-gauge (2 of 3)

broad gauge

noun Railroads.

See under gauge(def 13).
Also especially in technical use, broad gage.

Origin of broad gauge

First recorded in 1835–45

Definition for broad-gauge (3 of 3)

gauge
[ geyj ]
/ geɪdʒ /

verb (used with object), gauged, gaug·ing.

noun

Also especially in technical use, gage.

Origin of gauge

1375–1425; late Middle English < Old North French (French jauge) < Germanic

SYNONYMS FOR gauge

OTHER WORDS FROM gauge

Example sentences from the Web for broad-gauge

British Dictionary definitions for broad-gauge (1 of 2)

broad gauge

noun

a railway track with a greater distance between the lines than the standard gauge of 56 1/2 inches (about 1.44 metres) used now by most mainline railway systems

adjective broad-gauge

of, relating to, or denoting a railway having this track

British Dictionary definitions for broad-gauge (2 of 2)

gauge

gage

/ (ɡeɪdʒ) /

verb (tr)

noun

adjective

(of a pressure measurement) measured on a pressure gauge that registers zero at atmospheric pressure; above or below atmospheric pressure 5 bar gauge See also absolute (def. 10)

Derived forms of gauge

gaugeable or gageable, adjective gaugeably or gageably, adverb

Word Origin for gauge

C15: from Old Northern French, probably of Germanic origin