Scale definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms of Scale

decorticate, pare, peel, strip, climb, go up, mount, scabrous, exfoliation, flake, gamut, proportion

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33 dictionary results for: Scale

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

scale

1 [skeyl]

noun, verb, scaled, scal⋅ing.

–noun

Zoology.

a.	one of the thin, flat, horny plates forming the covering of certain animals, as snakes, lizards, and pangolins.

b.	one of the hard, bony or dentinal plates, either flat or denticulate, forming the covering of certain other animals, as fishes.

2.	any thin, platelike piece, lamina, or flake that peels off from a surface, as from the skin.

Botany.

a.	Also called bud scale. a rudimentary body, usually a specialized leaf and often covered with hair, wax, or resin, enclosing an immature leaf bud.

b.	a thin, scarious or membranous part of a plant, as a bract of a catkin.

4.	scale insect.

5.	a coating or incrustation, as on the inside of a boiler, formed by the precipitation of salts from the water.

Often, scales. Metallurgy.

a.	an oxide, esp. an iron oxide, occurring in a scaly form on the surface of metal brought to a high temperature.

b.	Also called mill scale. such scale formed on iron or steel during hot-rolling.

scales,

a.	a cause of blindness or ignorance, as regarding the true nature of a person, situation, etc.: You're infatuated with her now, but the scales will soon fall from your eyes.

b.	Bible. an unspecified affliction that caused Paul to become temporarily blind. Acts 9:18.

–verb (used with object)

8.	to remove the scales or scale from: to scale a fish.

9.	to remove in scales or thin layers.

10.	to cover with an incrustation or scale.

11.	to skip, as a stone over water.

12.	Dentistry. to remove (calculus) from the teeth with instruments.

–verb (used without object)

13.	to come off in scales.

14.	to shed scales.

15.	to become coated with scale, as the inside of a boiler.

Origin:
1250–1300; (n.) ME < MF escale < WGmc *skāla; akin to scale ² ; (v.) late ME scalen to remove scales from, deriv. of the n.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

scale

2 [skeyl]

noun, verb, scaled, scal⋅ing.

–noun

1.	Often, scales. a balance or any of various other instruments or devices for weighing: We gave the parents a baby scale. The butcher placed the meat on the scales.

2.	Also called scalepan. either of the pans or dishes of a balance.

3.	Scales, Astronomy, Astrology. the constellation or sign of Libra; Balance.

–verb (used with object)

4.	to weigh in or as if in scales.

5.	to have a weight of.

—Idioms

tip the scale or scales,

a.	to weigh: He tips the scales at 190 lbs.

b.	to turn the trend of favor, control, etc.: The present crisis should tip the scales for our candidate.

7.	turn the scale or scales, to decide in favor of one side or faction; determine the outcome: It would take a miracle to turn the scales for us now.

Origin:
1175–1225; ME < ON skālar (pl.), c. OE scealu scale (of a balance)

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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scale

3 [skeyl]

noun, verb, scaled, scal⋅ing.

–noun

1.	a succession or progression of steps or degrees; graduated series: the scale of taxation; the social scale.

2.	a series of marks laid down at determinate distances, as along a line, for purposes of measurement or computation: the scale of a thermometer.

3.	a graduated line, as on a map, representing proportionate size.

4.	a table of graduated rates, as of prices or wages: These unions use different scales.

5.	a wage that conforms to such rates: How much is scale?

6.	Also called union scale. a wage fixed by contract that is the minimum permitted to be paid to or accepted by a particular category of employed persons: All actors and musicians for the performance, including the stars, are working for scale.

7.	an instrument with graduated spaces, as for measuring.

8.	the proportion that a representation of an object bears to the object itself: a model on a scale of one inch to one foot.

9.	the ratio of distances or sometimes of areas on a map to the corresponding values on the earth.

10.	a certain relative or proportionate size or extent: They built a residence on a yet more magnificent scale.

11.	a standard of measurement or estimation; point of reference by which to gauge or rate: We have no scale by which to judge his achievements.

12.	Music. a succession of tones ascending or descending according to fixed intervals, esp. such a series beginning on a particular note: the major scale of C.

13.	Education, Psychology. a graded series of tests or tasks for measuring intelligence, achievement, adjustment, etc.

14.	Arithmetic. a system of numerical notation: the decimal scale.

15.	anything by which one may ascend.

16.

Obsolete.

a ladder.

b.	a flight of stairs.

–verb (used with object)

17.	to climb by or as if by a ladder; climb up or over.

18.	to make according to scale.

19.	to adjust in amount according to a fixed scale or proportion (often fol. by down or up): to scale down wages.

20.	to measure by or as if by a scale.

21.

Lumbering.

a.	to measure (logs).

b.	to estimate the amount of (standing timber).

22.	Australian Informal. to ride on (public transportation) without paying the fare.

–verb (used without object)

23.	to climb; ascend; mount.

24.	to progress in a graduated series.

Origin:
1350–1400; (n.) ME < L scālae ladder, stairs; (v.) ME < OF escaler or ML scālāre, both ≪ L scāla, scālae

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

scale¹ (skāl) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. One of the many small platelike dermal or epidermal structures that characteristically form the external covering of fishes, reptiles, and certain mammals.
2. A similar part, such as one of the minute structures overlapping to form the covering on the wings of butterflies and moths.
3. A scale insect.
4. A plant disease or infestation caused by scale insects.
5. A flaky oxide film formed on a metal, as on iron, that has been heated to high temperatures.
6. A flake of rust.
Pathology A dry thin flake of epidermis shed from the skin.
A small thin piece.
Botany A small, thin, usually dry, often appressed plant structure, such as any of the protective leaves that cover a tree bud or the bract that subtends a flower in a sedge spikelet.
1. A scale insect.
2. A plant disease or infestation caused by scale insects.
3. A flaky oxide film formed on a metal, as on iron, that has been heated to high temperatures.
4. A flake of rust.
1. A flaky oxide film formed on a metal, as on iron, that has been heated to high temperatures.
2. A flake of rust.
A hard mineral coating that forms on the inside surface of boilers, kettles, and other containers in which water is repeatedly heated.

v. scaled, scal·ing, scales

v. tr.

To clear or strip of scale or scales: Scale and clean the fish.
To remove in layers or scales: scaled off the old paint.
To cover with scales; encrust.
To throw (a thin flat object) so that it soars through the air or skips along the surface of water.
Dentistry To remove (tartar) from tooth surfaces with a pointed instrument.
Australian
1. To cheat; swindle.
2. To ride on (a tram or train, for example) without paying the fare.

v. intr.

To come off in scales or layers; flake.
To become encrusted.

[Middle English, from Old French escale, of Germanic origin; see skel-¹ in Indo-European roots.]
scale'like adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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scale² (skāl) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. A system of ordered marks at fixed intervals used as a reference standard in measurement: a ruler with scales in inches and centimeters.
2. An instrument or device bearing such marks.
3. A standard of measurement or judgment; a criterion.
4. A proportion used in determining the dimensional relationship of a representation to that which it represents: a world map with a scale of 1:4,560,000.
5. A calibrated line, as on a map or an architectural plan, indicating such a proportion.
6. Proper proportion: a house that seemed out of scale with its surroundings.
1. A proportion used in determining the dimensional relationship of a representation to that which it represents: a world map with a scale of 1:4,560,000.
2. A calibrated line, as on a map or an architectural plan, indicating such a proportion.
3. Proper proportion: a house that seemed out of scale with its surroundings.
A progressive classification, as of size, amount, importance, or rank: judging divers' performances on a scale of 1 to 10.
A relative level or degree: entertained on a lavish scale.
A minimum wage fixed by contract: musicians playing a benefit concert for scale.
Mathematics A system of notation in which the values of numerical expressions are determined by their places relative to the chosen base of the system: the decimal scale.
Music An ascending or descending collection of pitches proceeding by a specified scheme of intervals.

v. scaled, scal·ing, scales

v. tr.

To climb up or over; ascend: scaled the peak.
To make in accord with a particular proportion or scale: Scale the model to be one tenth of actual size.
To alter according to a standard or by degrees; adjust in calculated amounts: scaled down their demands; scaled back the scheduled pay increase.
To estimate or measure the quantity of lumber in (logs or uncut trees).

v. intr.

To climb; ascend.
To rise in steps or stages.

[Middle English, from Latin scālae, ladder; see skand- in Indo-European roots.]
scal'a·ble adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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scale³ (skāl) Pronunciation Key
n.

An instrument or machine for weighing. Often used in the plural.
Either of the pans, trays, or dishes of a balance.

v.   scaled, scal·ing, scales

v.   tr.
To weigh with scales.
v.   intr.
To have a given weight, as determined by a scale: cargo that scales 14 metric tons.

[Middle English, bowl, balance, from Old Norse skāl; see skel-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
scale (n1.)

"skin plates on fish or snakes," c.1300, from O.Fr. escale (12c., Mod.Fr. écale) "scale, husk," from Frank., from P.Gmc. *skælo "split, divide" (cf. O.H.G. scala "shell," Goth. skalja "tile," O.E. scealu "shell, husk), from PIE base *(s)kel- "to cut, cleave, split" (cf. L. culter "knife," scalpere "to cut, scrape;" O.C.S. skolika "mussel, shell," Rus. skala "rind, bark," O.E. scell "shell"). In reference to humans, as a condition of certain skin diseases, it is attested from c.1400. As what falls from one's eye when blindness ends (usually fig.), it echoes Acts ix.18 (L. tanquam squamæ, Gk. hosei lepides). Verb meaning "to remove the scales from (a fish)" is attested from c.1440.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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scale (n2.)

"pan of a balance," c.1375, earlier "drinking cup" (c.1205), from O.N. skal "bowl, drinking cup," in pl., "weighing scale" from P.Gmc. *skælo "split, divide" (cf. O.N. skel "shell," O.E. scalu, O.S. skala, O.H.G. scala, Ger. Schale, M.Du. scale, Du. schaal "drinking cup, bowl, shell, scale of a balance"), see scale (n.1). The connecting sense seems to be of half of a bivalve ("split") shell used as a drinking cup or a pan for weighing. But according to Paulus Diaconus the "drinking cup" sense originated from a supposed custom of making goblets from skulls (see skull).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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scale (v.)

"to climb," c.1380, from L. scala, from scandere "to climb" (see scan). This is also the source (perhaps via It. scala) of the noun in the musical sense (1597), and the meaning "proportion of a representation to the actual object" (1662). Scale down "reduce" is attested from 1887.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

scale
noun
1.	an ordered reference standard; "judging on a scale of 1 to 10"
2.	relative magnitude; "they entertained on a grand scale"
3.	the ratio between the size of something and a representation of it; "the scale of the map"; "the scale of the model"
4.	a specialized leaf or bract that protects a bud or catkin
5.	a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin
6.	(music) a series of notes differing in pitch according to a specific scheme (usually within an octave)
7.	a measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass
8.	an indicator having a graduated sequence of marks
9.	a metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners) [syn: plate]
10.	a flattened rigid plate forming part of the body covering of many animals
verb
1.	measure by or as if by a scale; "This bike scales only 25 pounds"
2.	pattern, make, regulate, set, measure, or estimate according to some rate or standard
3.	take by attacking with scaling ladders; "The troops scaled the walls of the fort"
4.	reach the highest point of; "We scaled the Mont Blanc"
5.	climb up by means of a ladder
6.	remove the scales from; "scale fish"
7.	measure with or as if with scales; "scale the gold"
8.	size or measure according to a scale; "This model must be scaled down"

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

scale

In addition to the idiom beginning with scale, also see tip the balance (scale); turn the tables (scales).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

scale¹ (skāl) Pronunciation Key

One of the small thin plates forming the outer covering of fish, reptiles, and certain other animals.
A similar part, such as one of the minute structures overlapping to form the covering on the wings of butterflies and moths.
A small, thin, usually dry plant part, such as one of the protective leaves that cover a tree bud or one of the structures that contain the reproductive organs on the cones of a conifer.
A plant disease caused by scale insects.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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scale² (skāl) Pronunciation Key

An ordered system of numbering or indexing that is used as a reference standard in measurement, in which each number corresponds to some physical quantity. Some scales, such as temperature scales, have equal intervals; other scales, such as the Richter scale, are arranged as a geometric progression.
An instrument or a machine for weighing.

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American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
scale

In music, the sequence of tones that a piece of music principally uses. A composition in the key of C-major uses the C-major scale, made up of the white keys on a piano.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
scale

A system of marks set at fixed intervals, used as a standard for measurement.

Note: On a map, plan, or chart, a scale indicates the proportion between the representation and what it represents, such as the legend “One inch equals twenty miles” on a map.

Note: Temperature scales divide up the range of temperatures into equal degrees.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

scale ¹ (skāl)
n.

A dry, thin flake of epidermis shed from the skin.
One of the many small, platelike dermal or epidermal structures that characteristically form the external covering of fishes, reptiles, and certain mammals.

v. scaled, scal·ing, scales

To come off in scales or layers; flake.
To become encrusted.
To remove tartar from tooth surfaces with a pointed instrument.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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scale ²
n.

A system of ordered marks at fixed intervals used as a reference standard in measurement.
An instrument or device bearing such marks.
A proportion used in determining the dimensional relationship of a representation to that which it represents.
A standard of measurement or judgment; a criterion.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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scale ³
n.

An instrument or a machine for weighing.
Either of the pans, trays, or dishes of a balance.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ¹scale
Pronunciation: 'skA(&)l
Function: noun
1 a : either pan or tray of a balance b : a beam that issupported freely in the center and has two pans of equal weight suspended from its ends —usually used in plural
2 : an instrument or machine for weighing

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: ²scale
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: scaled; scal·ing
transitive senses
: to weigh in scales scaleintransitive senses
: to have a specified weight on scales

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: ³scale
Function: noun
1 : a small thin dry lamina shed (as in many skin diseases) from the skin
2 : a film of tartarencrusting the teeth

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: ⁴scale
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: scaled; scal·ing
transitive senses
: to take off in thin layers orscales <scale tartar from the teeth> scale intransitive senses
1 : to separate or come off in thin layers or laminae
2 : to shedscales or fragmentary surface matter : EXFOLIATE <scaling skin>

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ⁵scale
Function: noun
1 : a series of marks or points at known intervals used to measure distances (as the height of the mercury in athermometer)
2 : a graduated series or scheme of rank or order
3 : a graded series of tests or of performances used in rating individual intelligence orachievement

Wallstreet Words - Cite This Source - Share This

scale

The schedule of yields (or prices) at which a serial bond issue is offered to the public by the underwriter. The schedule reflects yields at the various maturities being offered. Also called offering scale. See also inverted scale, preliminary scale.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: scale
Function: noun
: a set of graduated wage rates; also : a wage consistent with such rates —compare MINIMUM WAGE

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Scale

Scale\ (sk[=a]l), n. [AS. sc[=a]le; perhaps influenced by the kindred Icel. sk[=a]l balance, dish, akin also to D. schaal a scale, bowl, shell, G. schale, OHG. sc[=a]la, Dan. skaal drinking cup, bowl, dish, and perh. to E. scale of a fish. Cf. Scale of a fish, Skull the brain case.]

1. The dish of a balance; hence, the balance itself; an instrument or machine for weighing; as, to turn the scale; -- chiefly used in the plural when applied to the whole instrument or apparatus for weighing. Also used figuratively.

Long time in even scale The battle hung. --Milton.

The scales are turned; her kindness weighs no more Now than my vows. --Waller.

2. pl. (Astron.) The sign or constellation Libra.

Platform scale. See under Platform.

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Scale

Scale\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scaled; p. pr. & vb. n. Scaling.] To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system.

Scaling his present bearing with his past. --Shak.

To scale, or scale down, a debt, wages, etc., to reduce a debt, etc., according to a fixed ratio or scale. [U.S.]

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Scale

Scale\, n. [Cf. AS. scealu, scalu, a shell, parings; akin to D. schaal, G. schale, OHG. scala, Dan. & Sw. skal a shell, Dan. ski[ae]l a fish scale, Goth. skalja tile, and E. shale, shell, and perhaps also to scale of a balance; but perhaps rather fr. OF. escale, escaile, F. ['e]caille scale of a fish, and ['e]cale shell of beans, pease, eggs, nuts, of German origin, and akin to Goth. skalja, G. schale. See Shale.]

1. (Anat.) One of the small, thin, membranous, bony or horny pieces which form the covering of many fishes and reptiles, and some mammals, belonging to the dermal part of the skeleton, or dermoskeleton. See Cycloid, Ctenoid, and Ganoid.

Fish that, with their fins and shining scales, Glide under the green wave. --Milton.

2. Hence, any layer or leaf of metal or other material, resembling in size and thinness the scale of a fish; as, a scale of iron, of bone, etc.

3. (Zo["o]l.) One of the small scalelike structures covering parts of some invertebrates, as those on the wings of Lepidoptera and on the body of Thysanura; the elytra of certain annelids. See Lepidoptera.

4. (Zo["o]l.) A scale insect. (See below.)

5. (Bot.) A small appendage like a rudimentary leaf, resembling the scales of a fish in form, and often in arrangement; as, the scale of a bud, of a pine cone, and the like. The name is also given to the chaff on the stems of ferns.

6. The thin metallic side plate of the handle of a pocketknife. See Illust. of Pocketknife.

7. An incrustation deposit on the inside of a vessel in which water is heated, as a steam boiler.

8. (Metal.) The thin oxide which forms on the surface of iron forgings. It consists essentially of the magnetic oxide, Fe3O4. Also, a similar coating upon other metals.

Covering scale (Zo["o]l.), a hydrophyllium.

Ganoid scale. (Zo["o]l.) See under Ganoid.

Scale armor (Mil.), armor made of small metallic scales overlapping, and fastened upon leather or cloth.

Scale beetle (Zo["o]l.), the tiger beetle.

Scale carp (Zo["o]l.), a carp having normal scales.

Scale insect (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of small hemipterous insects belonging to the family Coccid[ae], in which the females, when adult, become more or less scalelike in form. They are found upon the leaves and twigs of various trees and shrubs, and often do great damage to fruit trees. See Orange scale,under Orange.

Scale moss (Bot.), any leafy-stemmed moss of the order Hepatic[ae]; -- so called from the small imbricated scalelike leaves of most of the species. See Hepatica, 2, and Jungermannia.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Scale

Scale\, v. t. 1. To strip or clear of scale or scales; as, to scale a fish; to scale the inside of a boiler.

2. To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface. "If all the mountains were scaled, and the earth made even." --T. Burnet.

3. To scatter; to spread. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

4. (Gun.) To clean, as the inside of a cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder. --Totten.

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Scale

Scale\, v. i. 1. To separate and come off in thin layers or lamin[ae]; as, some sandstone scales by exposure.

Those that cast their shell are the lobster and crab; the old skins are found, but the old shells never; so it is likely that they scale off. --Bacon.

2. To separate; to scatter. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Scale

Scale\, n. [L. scalae, pl., scala staircase, ladder; akin to scandere to climb. See Scan; cf. Escalade.]

1. A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending. [Obs.]

2. Hence, anything graduated, especially when employed as a measure or rule, or marked by lines at regular intervals. Specifically: (a) A mathematical instrument, consisting of a slip of wood, ivory, or metal, with one or more sets of spaces graduated and numbered on its surface, for measuring or laying off distances, etc., as in drawing, plotting, and the like. See Gunter's scale. (b) A series of spaces marked by lines, and representing proportionately larger distances; as, a scale of miles, yards, feet, etc., for a map or plan. (c) A basis for a numeral system; as, the decimal scale; the binary scale, etc. (d) (Mus.) The graduated series of all the tones, ascending or descending, from the keynote to its octave; -- called also the gamut. It may be repeated through any number of octaves. See Chromatic scale, Diatonic scale, Major scale, and Minor scale, under Chromatic, Diatonic, Major, and Minor.

3. Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order; as, a scale of being.

There is a certain scale of duties . . . which for want of studying in right order, all the world is in confusion. --Milton.

4. Relative dimensions, without difference in proportion of parts; size or degree of the parts or components in any complex thing, compared with other like things; especially, the relative proportion of the linear dimensions of the parts of a drawing, map, model, etc., to the dimensions of the corresponding parts of the object that is represented; as, a map on a scale of an inch to a mile.

Scale of chords, a graduated scale on which are given the lengths of the chords of arcs from 0[deg] to 90[deg] in a circle of given radius, -- used in measuring given angles and in plotting angles of given numbers of degrees.

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Scale

Scale\, v. t. [Cf. It. scalare, fr. L. scalae, scala. See Scale a ladder.] To climb by a ladder, or as if by a ladder; to ascend by steps or by climbing; to clamber up; as, to scale the wall of a fort.

Oft have I scaled the craggy oak. --Spenser.

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Scale

Scale\, v. i. To lead up by steps; to ascend. [Obs.]

Satan from hence, now on the lower stair, That scaled by steps of gold to heaven-gate, Looks down with wonder. --Milton.