1 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
noun
plural
scales
1 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
noun
plural
scales
Britannica Dictionary definition of SCALE
:
a device that is used for weighing people or things
[count]
-
(US) a bathroom scale
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[plural]
-
(Brit) He stepped onto the bathroom scales.
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— see picture at bathroom
tip the scales
— see 1tip
— compare 2scale, 4scale
2 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
noun
plural
scales
2 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
noun
plural
scales
Britannica Dictionary definition of SCALE
[count]
:
one of many small thin plates that cover the bodies of some animals (such as fish or snakes)
— compare 1scale, 4scale
3 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
verb
scales;
scaled;
scaling
3 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
verb
scales;
scaled;
scaling
Britannica Dictionary definition of SCALE
[+ object]
:
to remove the scales from (a fish)
-
You should scale, bone, and clean the fish before you cook it.
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— compare 5scale
4 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
noun
plural
scales
4 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
noun
plural
scales
Britannica Dictionary definition of SCALE
1
[count]
:
a series of musical notes that go up or down in pitch
-
the C-minor scale
-
a major scale
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2
[count]
:
a line on a map or chart that shows a specific unit of measure (such as an inch) used to represent a larger unit (such as a mile)
:
the relationship between the distances on a map and the actual distances
-
The map uses a scale of one centimeter for every 10 kilometers.
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3
[count]
:
a range of numbers that is used to show the size, strength, or quality of something
— usually singular
-
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give the movie a 9. [=the movie was extremely good]
-
On a scale of 1 to 5—1 being mild pain and 5 being extreme pain—tell me how much pain you are in.
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— see also richter scale
4
[count]
:
a range of levels of something from lowest to highest
-
He is at the top of the pay scale for his position.
-
Primates are high up on the evolutionary scale.
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— see also sliding scale
5
[noncount]
— used to describe a model, drawing, etc., in which all of the parts of something relate to each other in the same way that they do in the larger form
-
The model of the new city hall is to scale. [=the model shows exactly how the parts will relate to each other when it is built]
-
The diagram was not drawn to scale.
-
a scale model of a car
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6
[singular]
:
the size or level of something especially in comparison to something else
-
The company does things on a larger scale than most others.
-
The mayor surveyed the full scale [=extent] of the damage.
-
The war could impact the economy on a global scale. [=could impact the economy of the entire world]
-
They exposed fraud on a grand scale.
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— see also full-scale, large-scale, small-scale
7
[noncount]
technical
:
a hard substance that is formed in pipes or containers holding water
8
[noncount]
British
:
a hard substance that forms on teeth
:
tartar
-
buildup of plaque and scale on the teeth
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— compare 1scale, 2scale
5 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
verb
scales;
scaled;
scaling
5 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
verb
scales;
scaled;
scaling
Britannica Dictionary definition of SCALE
[+ object]
:
to climb to the top of (something)
-
Hikers scaled the mountain.
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— sometimes used figuratively
-
She scaled the heights of the publishing industry. [=she rose to a very high position in the publishing industry]
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scale back/down
[phrasal verb]
scale back/down (something)
or
scale (something) back/down
:
to decrease the size, amount, or extent of (something)
-
The committee scaled down the budget.
-
The company has scaled back production.
-
We scaled back our original plans.
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scale up
[phrasal verb]
scale up (something)
or
scale (something) up
:
to increase the size, amount, or extent of (something)
-
The company hopes to scale up production soon.
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— compare 3scale
