a public officer authorized to hear and decide cases in a court of law; a magistrate charged with the administration of justice.

a person appointed to decide in any competition, contest, or matter at issue; authorized arbiter

the judges of a beauty contest.

a person qualified to pass a critical judgment

a good judge of horses.

an administrative head of Israel in the period between the death of Joshua and the accession to the throne by Saul.

(esp. in rural areas) a county official with supervisory duties, often employed part-time or on an honorary basis.

to pass legal judgment on; pass sentence on (a person)

The court judged him guilty.

to hear evidence or legal arguments in (a case) in order to pass judgment; adjudicate; try

The Supreme Court is judging that case.

to form a judgment or opinion of; decide upon critically

You can't judge a book by its cover.

to decide or settle authoritatively; adjudge

The censor judged the book obscene and forbade its sale.

to infer, think, or hold as an opinion; conclude about or assess

He judged her to be correct.

to make a careful guess about; estimate

We judged the distance to be about four miles.

(of the ancient Hebrew judges) to govern.

to act as a judge; pass judgment

No one would judge between us.

to form an opinion or estimate

I have heard the evidence and will judge accordingly.

to make a mental judgment.