heavy gauge

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a nountechnical

   Made of thick, strong material, such as metal, wire, plastic or fabric, and therefore sturdy.

   Grammar: Comes before a noun and is often hyphenated: heavy-gauge wire.

   Patterns

   • heavy-gauge wire
   • heavy-gauge steel

   The garage uses heavy-gauge steel for the shelves.

   Use a heavy-gauge extension cord for power tools.

   She bought heavy gauge plastic sheeting to cover the roof.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   A thick grade or size of wire, sheet metal, needle or similar material.

   Grammar: Usually in the phrase a heavy gauge.

   Patterns

   • a heavy gauge of something

   Cable of a heavy gauge is required for the outdoor lights.

   Choose a heavy gauge for fencing in windy areas.

Common combinations

heavy-gauge steel

The toolbox is made from heavy-gauge steel.

heavy-gauge wire

Heavy-gauge wire is needed for the fence.

heavy-gauge plastic

The bags are made of heavy-gauge plastic.

heavy-gauge needle

A heavy-gauge needle is needed for leather.

heavy-gauge extension cord

Plug the saw into a heavy-gauge extension cord.

Synonyms and how they differ

heavy-duty

Heavy-duty describes anything built for hard use, while heavy gauge refers specifically to the thickness of the material.

thick

Thick is the plain everyday word and carries no suggestion of an industrial grading system.

sturdy

Sturdy describes how strong something is overall, not its measured thickness.

robust

Robust is more general and can describe people, systems or objects.

Opposites

Word family

gauge noun

a measure of thickness or an instrument for measuring

gauge verb

to measure or estimate

light-gauge adjective

made of thin material

gauged adjective

measured

gauging noun

the act of measuring

Commonly confused: heavy gauge or gouge?

Practice

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