judge

Universal Words noun, verb noun in court of law 1 a person in a court of law who has the authority to decide how criminals should be punished or to make legal decisions: a High Court judge * a federal judge * The case comes before Judge Cooper next week. * The judge sentenced him to five years in prison. compareJUSTICEOFTHEPEACE, MAGISTRATE in competition 2 a person who decides who has won a competition: the panel of judges at the flower show * The judges' decision is final. sb who gives opinion 3 [usuallysing.] a person who has the necessary knowledge or skills to give their opinion about the value or quality of sb/sth: She's a good judge of character. * The last singer was the best-not that I'm any judge (= I do not know much about the subject). * 'I'm not sure that's a good way to do it.' 'Let me be the judge of that.' verb form opinion 1 to form an opinion about sb/sth, based on the information you have: [V] As far as I can judge, all of them are to blame. * Judging by her last letter, they are having a wonderful time. * To judge from what he said, he was very disappointed. * [VN] Schools should not be judged only on exam results. * Each painting must be judged on its own merits. * [VN-N, VNtoinf] The tour was judged a great success. * The tour was judged to have been a great success. * [VN-ADJ] They judged it wise to say nothing. [also Vthat, VNthat, Vwh-] estimate 2 to guess the size, amount, etc. of sth: [Vwh-] It's difficult to judge how long the journey will take. * [VNtoinf] I judged him to be about 50. in competition 3 to decide the result of a competition; to be the judge in a competition: [VN] She was asked to judge the essay competition. [also V] give opinion 4 to give your opinion about sb, especially when you disapprove of them: [VN] What gives you the right to judge other people? [also V] in court of law 5 to decide whether sb is guilty or innocent in a court of law: [VN] to judge a case * [VN-ADJ] to judge sb guilty / not guilty IDIOMS don't judge a book by its cover (saying) used to say that you should not form an opinion about sb/sth from their appearance only