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scale

 - 23 dictionary results
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scale

1  [skeyl] noun, verb, scaled, scal⋅ing.
Use scale in a Sentence
–noun
1. 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.
3. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

Related forms:
scaleless, adjective
scalelike, adjective
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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
6. 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)

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. 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

Synonyms:
17. See climb.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To scale
scale 1   (skāl)   
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.

  2. Pathology A dry thin flake of epidermis shed from the skin.

  3. A small thin piece.

  4. 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.

  7. 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.

  1. To clear or strip of scale or scales: Scale and clean the fish.

  2. To remove in layers or scales: scaled off the old paint.

  3. To cover with scales; encrust.

  4. To throw (a thin flat object) so that it soars through the air or skips along the surface of water.

  5. Dentistry To remove (tartar) from tooth surfaces with a pointed instrument.

  6. Australian

    1. To cheat; swindle.

    2. To ride on (a tram or train, for example) without paying the fare.

v.   intr.

  1. To come off in scales or layers; flake.

  2. To become encrusted.


[Middle English, from Old French escale, of Germanic origin; see skel-1 in Indo-European roots.]
scale'like adj.
scale 2   (skāl)   
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.

  3. A progressive classification, as of size, amount, importance, or rank: judging divers' performances on a scale of 1 to 10.

  4. A relative level or degree: entertained on a lavish scale.

  5. A minimum wage fixed by contract: musicians playing a benefit concert for scale.

  6. 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.

  7. Music An ascending or descending collection of pitches proceeding by a specified scheme of intervals.

v.   scaled, scal·ing, scales

v.   tr.

  1. To climb up or over; ascend: scaled the peak.

  2. To make in accord with a particular proportion or scale: Scale the model to be one tenth of actual size.

  3. To alter according to a standard or by degrees; adjust in calculated amounts: scaled down their demands; scaled back the scheduled pay increase.

  4. To estimate or measure the quantity of lumber in (logs or uncut trees).

v.   intr.

  1. To climb; ascend.

  2. To rise in steps or stages.


[Middle English, from Latin scālae, ladder; see skand- in Indo-European roots.]
scal'a·ble adj.
scale 3   (skāl)   
n.  

  1. An instrument or machine for weighing. Often used in the plural.

  2. 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
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Cultural Dictionary

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.


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
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
scale

  1. n.
    the regular union rate of pay; union wages. : We pay scale and not a penny more. I don't care who you think you are!
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

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.

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).

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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Financial Dictionary

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.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: scale
Function: noun
: a set of graduated wage rates; also : a wage consistent with such rates —compare MINIMUM WAGE
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

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

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

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

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>

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
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

scale 1 (skāl)
n.

  1. A dry, thin flake of epidermis shed from the skin.

  2. 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

  1. To come off in scales or layers; flake.

  2. To become encrusted.

  3. To remove tartar from tooth surfaces with a pointed instrument.

scale 2
n.

  1. A system of ordered marks at fixed intervals used as a reference standard in measurement.

  2. An instrument or device bearing such marks.

  3. A proportion used in determining the dimensional relationship of a representation to that which it represents.

  4. A standard of measurement or judgment; a criterion.

scale 3
n.

  1. An instrument or a machine for weighing.

  2. 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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Idioms & Phrases

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. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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