[skeyl] 
noun, verb, scaled, scal⋅ing.| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 22. | Australian Informal. to ride on (public transportation) without paying the fare. |
| 23. | to climb; ascend; mount. |
| 24. | to progress in a graduated series. |
scale
scale 3
n.
An instrument or a machine for weighing.
Either of the pans, trays, or dishes of a balance.
scale 2 (skāl) Pronunciation Key
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scale down
Reduce the size or cost of, as in The owners decided to scale down wages. This expression, along with the related scale up, which refers to an increase, alludes to scale in the sense of "a fixed standard." [Late 1800s]