Scale

[Scale]

A scale is a series that climbs up or down. Think of scaling, or climbing, a mountain; a musical scale: do re mi fa so la ti do; or a scale you weigh yourself on––it counts up the pounds one after another after another.

...

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.

Noun
a flattened rigid plate forming part of the body covering of many animals

Noun
a metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)

Noun
an indicator having a graduated sequence of marks

Noun
a measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass

Noun
(music) a series of notes differing in pitch according to a specific scheme (usually within an octave)

...

Noun
a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin

Noun
a specialized leaf or bract that protects a bud or catkin

Noun
relative magnitude; "they entertained on a grand scale"

Noun
the ratio between the size of something and a representation of it; "the scale of the map"; "the scale of the model"

Noun
an ordered reference standard; "judging on a scale of 1 to 10"

Verb
size or measure according to a scale; "This model must be scaled down"

Verb
measure with or as if with scales; "scale the gold"

Verb
remove the scales from; "scale fish"

Verb
pattern, make, regulate, set, measure, or estimate according to some rate or standard

Verb
climb up by means of a ladder

Verb
reach the highest point of; "We scaled the Mont Blanc"

Verb
take by attacking with scaling ladders; "The troops scaled the walls of the fort"

Verb
measure by or as if by a scale; "This bike scales only 25 pounds"


n.
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.

n.
The sign or constellation Libra.

v. t.
To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system.

n.
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.

n.
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.

n.
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.

n.
A scale insect. (See below.)

n.
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.

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

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

n.
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.

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

v. t.
To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface.

v. t.
To scatter; to spread.

v. t.
To clean, as the inside of a cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder.

v. i.
To separate and come off in thin layers or laminae; as, some sandstone scales by exposure.

v. i.
To separate; to scatter.

n.
A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending.

n.
Hence, anything graduated, especially when employed as a measure or rule, or marked by lines at regular intervals.

n.
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.

n.
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.

n.
A basis for a numeral system; as, the decimal scale; the binary scale, etc.

n.
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.

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

n.
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.

v. t.
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.

v. i.
To lead up by steps; to ascend.


Scale

Scale , n. [AS. sc'bele; perhaps influenced by the kindred Icel. sk'bel balance, dish, akin also to D. schaal a scale, bowl, shell, G. schale, OHG. sc'bela, 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.
The scales are turned; her kindness weighs no more Now than my vows.
2. (Astron.) The sign or constellation Libra. Platform scale. See under Platform.

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

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'91l a fish scale, Goth. skalja tile, and E. shale, shell, and perhaps also to scale of a balance; butperhaps rather fr. OF. escale, escaile, F. '82caille scale of a fish, and '82cale shell of beans, pease, egs, 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.
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'94l.) 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'94l.) 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 esentially of the magnetic oxide, Fe3O4. Also, a similar coating upon other metals. Covering scale (Zo'94l.), a hydrophyllium. -- Ganoid scale (Zo'94l.) See under Ganoid. -- Scale armor (Mil.), armor made of small metallic scales overlapping, and fastened upon leather or cloth. -- Scale beetle (Zo'94l.), the tiger beetle. -- Scale carp (Zo'94l.), a carp having normal scales. -- Scale insect (Zo'94l.), any one of numerous species of small hemipterous insects belonging to the family Coccid'91, 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'91; -- so called from the small imbricated scalelike leaves of most of the species. See Hepatica, 2, and Jungermannia.

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 mountaines 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.

Scale

Scale, v. i. 1. To separate and come off in thin layers or lamin'91; 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.
2. To separate; to scatter. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

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.
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° to 90° in a circle of given radius, -- used in measuring given angles and in plotting angles of given numbers of degrees.

Scale

Scale, v. t. [Cf. It. scalare, fr. L. scale, 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.

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.

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.

To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system.

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.

To separate and come off in thin layers or lamin'91; as, some sandstone scales by exposure.

A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending.

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.

To lead up by steps; to ascend.

...

Usage Examples

I mean, we've built a lot of products that we think are good, and will help people share photos and share videos and write messages to each other. But it's really all about how people are spreading Facebook around the world in all these different countries. And that's what's so amazing about the scale that it's at today.

I believe that the majority of times the scale tilts toward the good. It's this amazing thing that rolls on and if we get in the flow of it, that's God. And if we fight it, if we swim the other way, we're swimming away from the purest expression of this life.

I think what's really amazing is that given the scale of the web and getting the compute power we have today, we're starting to see things that appear intelligent but actually aren't semantically intelligent.

I'm drawn to furniture design as complete architecture on a minor scale.

Georgian architecture respected the scale of both the individual and the community.

During the 80s and 90s, we all became consumed with ourselves. In the 21st century, we've come back to simpler times. People are struggling economically and this has forced them to scale back the material aspects of their lives and realise the beauty of finding the simple joy in being with the people we love.

I never had any big dreams about doing something on a huge scale.

And I think it's a prudent, responsible way, given the scale of the emergency, the scale of the damage still facing America, that we finance these additional support for the unemployed as well as the support for small business. We think there's a good case for doing it now. We want to do it in an overall fiscally responsible way.

Misspelled Form

Scale, Scale, cale, Scale, Sxcale, Sdcale, Sfcale, Svcale, S cale, Sxale, Sdale, Sfale, Svale, S ale, Scxale, Scdale, Scfale, Scvale, Sc ale, Scqale, Scwale, Scsale, Sczale, Scqle, Scwle, Scsle, Sczle, Scaqle, Scawle, Scasle, Scazle, Scakle, Scaole, Scaple, Sca:le, Scake, Scaoe, Scape, Sca:e, Scalke, Scaloe, Scalpe, Scal:e, Scalwe, Scal3e, Scal4e, Scalre, Scalse, Scalde, Scalw, Scal3, Scal4, Scalr, Scals, Scald, Scalew, Scale3, Scale4, Scaler, Scales, Scaled.

Other Usage Examples

I have spent all my life under a Communist regime, and I will tell you that a society without any objective legal scale is a terrible one indeed. But a society with no other scale but the legal one is not quite worthy of man either.

Money isn't the most important thing in life, but it's reasonably close to oxygen on the 'gotta have it' scale.

I think what a lot of action movies lose these days, especially the ones that deal with fantasy, is you stop caring at some point because you've lost human scale.

I love to compare different time frames. Poetry can evoke the time of the subject. By a very careful choice of words you can evoke an era, completely throw the poem into a different time scale.

If you think of a work of fiction as a kind of scale model of the world, then the positive valences - where things turn out better than you thought they would - ought to be in there somewhere, too.

If you look at any Muslim society and you make a scale of how developed they are, and how successful the economy is, it's a straight line. It depends on how much they emancipate their women.

I think top scientists need to be compensated at a different scale in society. Somebody with experience will tell you that true scientists are not motivated by money - they are motivated by the quest itself. That is true. But I think an additional recognition will not hurt.

I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and Non-violence are as old as the hills. All I have done is to try experiments in both on as vast a scale as I could.

I don't pity any man who does hard work worth doing. I admire him. I pity the creature who does not work, at whichever end of the social scale he may regard himself as being.

Comments


Browse Dictionary