scale

noun \ ˈskāl \

Definition of scale

1 a : either pan or tray of a balance

b : a beam that is supported 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

Origin and Etymology of scale

Middle English scole, scale bowl, scale of a balance, from Old Norse skāl; akin to Old Norse skel shell — more at shell

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

scale

verb

Definition of scale

scaled; scaling

transitive verb

: to weigh in scales

intransitive verb

: to have a specified weight on scales

First Known Use of scale

1691

Other Weights and Measures Terms

avoirdupois weight, calorie, denier, kip, pace, twain

scale

noun

Definition of scale

1 a : a small, flattened, rigid, and definitely circumscribed plate forming part of the external body covering especially of a fish

b : a small thin plate suggesting a fish scale

scales of mica

the scales on a moth's wing

c : the scaly covering of a scaled animal

2 : a small thin dry lamina shed (as in many skin diseases) from the skin

3 : a thin coating, layer, or incrustation: such as

a : a usually black scaly coating of oxide forming on the surface of a metal (such as iron) when it is heated for processing

b : a hard incrustation usually rich in sulfate of calcium that is deposited on the inside of a vessel (such as a boiler) in which water is heated

4 a : a modified leaf protecting a seed plant bud before expansion

b : a thin, membranous, chaffy, or woody bract

5 a : any of the small overlapping usually metal pieces forming the outer surface of scale armor

b : scale armor

6 a : scale insect

b : infestation with or disease caused by scale insects

—

scaled

play \ˈskāld\ adjective

—

scaleless

play \ˈskāl-ləs\ adjective

Origin and Etymology of scale

Middle English, from Anglo-French escale, eschale, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English scealu shell, husk — more at shell

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

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scale

verb

Definition of scale

scaled; scaling

transitive verb

1 : to remove the scale or scales from (as by scraping)

scale a fish

2 : to take off in thin layers or scales

scale tartar from the teeth

3 : to throw (something, such as a thin, flat stone) so that the edge cuts the air or so that it skips on water : skim

intransitive verb

1 : to separate and come off in scales : flake

2 : to shed scales

scaling skin

First Known Use of scale

15th century

scale

verb

Definition of scale

scaled; scaling

transitive verb

1 a : to attack with or take by means of scaling ladders

scale a castle wall

b : to climb up or reach by means of a ladder

c : to reach the highest point of : surmount

scale a mountain

2 a : to arrange in a graduated series

b (1) : to measure by or as if by a scale

(2) : to measure or estimate the sound content of (logs, standing timber, etc.)

c : to pattern, make, regulate, set, or estimate according to some rate or standard : adjust

a production schedule scaled to actual need

—often used with back, down, or up

scale down imports

intransitive verb

1 : to climb by or as if by a ladder

2 : to rise in a graduated series

3 : measure

Origin and Etymology of scale

Middle English, from ⁶scale

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

scale

noun

Definition of scale

1 a obsolete : ladder

b archaic : a means of ascent

2 : a graduated series of musical tones ascending or descending in order of pitch according to a specified scheme of their intervals

3 : something graduated especially when used as a measure or rule: such as

a : a series of marks or points at known intervals used to measure distances (such as the height of the mercury in a thermometer)

b : an indication of the relationship between the distances on a map and the corresponding actual distances

c : ruler 3

4 a : a graduated series or scheme of rank or order

a scale of taxation

b : minimum wage 2

5 a : a proportion between two sets of dimensions (as between those of a drawing and its original)

b : a distinctive relative size, extent, or degree

projects done on a large scale

6 : a graded series of tests or of performances used in rating individual intelligence or achievement

—

scale

adjective

— to scale

: according to the proportions of an established scale of measurement

floor plans drawn to scale

Origin and Etymology of scale

Middle English, from Late Latin scala ladder, staircase, from Latin scalae, plural, stairs, rungs, ladder; akin to Latin scandere to climb — more at scan

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Other Weights and Measures Terms

avoirdupois weight, calorie, denier, kip, pace, twain

scale

noun

Definition of scale

1 obsolete : escalade

2 : an estimate of the amount of sound lumber in logs or standing timber

Origin and Etymology of scale

⁵scale

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1587

See Words from the same year

SCALE Defined for Kids

scale

noun \ ˈskāl \

Definition of scale for Students

1 : either pan of a balance or the balance itself

2 : a device for weighing

scale

noun

Definition of scale for Students

1 : one of the small stiff plates that cover much of the body of some animals (as fish and snakes)

2 : a thin layer or part suggesting a fish scale

the scales on a butterfly's wing

—

scaled

\ˈskāld\ adjective

—

scaleless

\ˈskāl-ləs\ adjective

a scaleless fish

scale

verb

Definition of scale for Students

scaled; scaling

1 : to remove the scales of

They scaled the fish.

2 : ²flake

My dry skin was scaling.

scale

verb

Definition of scale for Students

scaled; scaling

1 : to climb by or as if by a ladder

Climbers scaled the cliff.

2 : to regulate or set according to a standard —often used with down or up

I scaled down my plan.

scale

noun

Definition of scale for Students

1 : a series of musical tones going up or down in pitch in fixed steps

2 : a series of spaces marked off by lines and used for measuring distances or amounts

a thermometer's scale

3 : a series of like things arranged in order (as according to size or degree)

a color scale

4 : the size of a picture, plan, or model of a thing compared to the size of the thing itself

The scale of the model is {frac1/35}.

5 : a standard for measuring or judging

On a scale of one to ten, I give it an eight.

6 : the size or extent of something especially in comparison to something else They throw parties on a large scale.

Medical Dictionary

scale

noun \ ˈskā(ə)l \

medical Definition of scale

1 a : either pan or tray of a balance

b : a beam that is supported 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

scale

verb

medical Definition of scale

scaled; scaling

transitive verb

: to weigh in scales

intransitive verb

: to have a specified weight on scales

scale

noun

medical Definition of scale

1 : a small thin dry lamina shed (as in many skin diseases) from the skin

2 : a film of tartar encrusting the teeth

scale

verb

medical Definition of scale

scaled; scaling

transitive verb

: to take off in thin layers or scales

scale tartar from the teeth

intransitive verb

1 : to separate or come off in thin layers or laminae

2 : to shed scales or fragmentary surface matter : exfoliate

scaling skin

scale

noun

medical Definition of scale

1 : a series of marks or points at known intervals used to measure distances (as the height of the mercury in a thermometer)

2 : a graduated series or scheme of rank or order

3 : a graded series of tests or of performances used in rating individual intelligence or achievement

Law Dictionary

scale

noun

legal Definition of scale

: a set of graduated wage rates; also : a wage consistent with such rates — compare minimum wage

Learn More about scale

See words that rhyme with scale Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for scale Spanish Central: Translation of scale Nglish: Translation of scale for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of scale for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scale

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Origin and Etymology of scale

scale

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Other Weights and Measures Terms

scale

Definition of scale

scaled

scaleless

Origin and Etymology of scale

scale

Definition of scale

First Known Use of scale

scale

Definition of scale

Origin and Etymology of scale

scale

Definition of scale

scale

Origin and Etymology of scale

Other Weights and Measures Terms

scale

Definition of scale

Origin and Etymology of scale

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SCALE Defined for Kids

scale

Definition of scale for Students

scale

Definition of scale for Students

scaled

scaleless

scale

Definition of scale for Students

scale

Definition of scale for Students

scale

Definition of scale for Students

Medical Dictionary

scale

medical Definition of scale

scale

medical Definition of scale

scale

medical Definition of scale

scale

medical Definition of scale

scale

medical Definition of scale

Law Dictionary

scale

legal Definition of scale

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