judge (jŭj)

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[Middle English jugen, from Anglo-Norman juger, from Latin iūdicāre, from iūdex, iūdic-, judge.]

verb: judged, judg·ing, judg·es. 

transitive verb 

1. To form an opinion or estimation of after careful consideration: judge heights; judging character.
2. 1. Law To hear and decide on in a court of law; try: judge a case.
   2. Obsolete To pass sentence on; condemn.
   3. To act as one appointed to decide the winners of: judge an essay contest.
3. To determine or declare after consideration or deliberation.
4. Informal To have as an opinion or assumption; suppose: I judge you're right.
5. Bible To govern; rule. Used of an ancient Israelite leader.

intransitive verb 

1. To form an opinion or evaluation.
2. To act or decide as a judge.

noun 

1. One who judges, especially:
   1. One who makes estimates as to worth, quality, or fitness: a good judge of used cars; a poor judge of character.
   2. Law A public official who hears and decides cases brought before a court of law.
   3. Law A bankruptcy referee.
   4. One appointed to decide the winners of a contest or competition.
2. Bible
   1. A leader of the Israelites during a period of about 400 years between the death of Joshua and the accession of Saul.
   2. Judges. A book of the Bible.

synonyms:

judge, arbitrator, arbiter, referee, umpire These nouns denote persons who make decisions that determine or settle points at issue. A judge is one capable of making rational, dispassionate, and wise decisions: In this case, the jury members are the judges of the truth. An arbitrator is either appointed or derives authority from the consent of the disputants: An experienced arbitrator mediated the contract dispute. An arbiter is one whose opinion or judgment is recognized as being unassailable or binding: The critic considered himself an arbiter of fine literature. A referee is an attorney appointed by a court to investigate and report on a case: The referee handled many bankruptcy cases each month. An umpire is a person appointed to settle an issue that arbitrators are unable to resolve: The umpire studied complex tax cases. In sports referee and umpire refer to officials who enforce the rules and settle points at issue.