scale

scale
1 /skeIl/ noun
1 SIZE/LEVEL (singular, uncountable) the size or level of something, or the amount that something is happening or being done
(+ of): The scale of the pollution problem was much worse than scientists had predicted. | large/small etc scale: There has been development on a massive scale since 1980. | a large-scale research project
2 RANGE (countable usually singular) the whole range of different types of people, things, ideas etc, from the lowest level to the highest: At the other end of the scale are the super-rich. | Fish are lower down the evolutionary scale.
3 MEASURING INSTRUMENT scales (plural) also scale AmE
a) a machine for weighing people or objects: the bathroom scales
b) a piece of equipment with two dishes used especially in the past for weighing things by comparing them to a known weight
 —see also: tip the balance/scales tip 2 (8)
4 MEASURING SYSTEM (C) a system for measuring the force, speed, amount etc of something: Earthquakes are measured on the Richter scale. | the company pay scale
5 on a scale of 1 to 10 spoken used when you are asking someone to say how good they think something is: On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate his performance?
6 MEASURING MARKS (C) a set of marks with regular spaces between them on a tool or instrument used for measuring: a ruler with a metric scale | the scale on a thermometer
7 MAP/MODEL (C, U) the relationship between the size of a map, drawing, or model and the actual size of the place or thing that it represents: a scale of 1:250 000 | What's the scale of this map?
8 MUSIC (C) a series of musical notes moving upwards or downwards in pitch 2 (3) with fixed distances between each note
9 FISH (countable usually plural) one of the small flat pieces of skin that cover the bodies of fish, snakes etc
10 TEETH (U) a white substance that forms on your teeth
11 WATER PIPES (U) a white substance that forms around the inside of hot water pipes or containers in which water is boiled
12 the scales fell from my eyes literary used to say that you suddenly realized what had been clear to other people
—see also: full­scale 2 verb (T)
1 to climb to the top of something that is high and difficult to climb: Rescuers had to scale a 300m cliff to reach the injured climber.
2 to remove the scales (=skin) from a fish
—compare descale scale sth down phrasal verb (T) BrE, scale sth back AmE to reduce the size of an organization, plan etc so that it operates at a lower level: Both companies have announced plans to scale back auto production next year.

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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Synonyms:
(of a balance) / / , / , , , , , , , , ,


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  • scale — scale1 [skāl] n. [ME < LL scala (in Vulg., Jacob s ladder) < L, usually as pl., scalae, flight of stairs, ladder < * scandsla < scandere, to climb: see DESCEND] 1. Obs. a) a ladder or flight of stairs b) any means of ascent 2 …   English World dictionary

  • 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[ae]l a fish scale, Goth. skalja tile, and E. shale, shell, and perhaps also to scale of a balance; but perhaps rather… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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.] [1913 Webster] 2. Hence, anything graduated, especially when employed as a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scale — Ⅰ. scale [1] ► NOUN 1) each of the small overlapping plates protecting the skin of fish and reptiles. 2) a thick dry flake of skin. 3) a white deposit formed in a kettle, boiler, etc. by the evaporation of water containing lime. 4) tartar formed… …   English terms dictionary

  • Scale — (sk[=a]l), n. [AS. sc[=a]le; perhaps influenced by the kindred Icel. sk[=a]l balance, dish, akin also to D. schaal a scale, bowl, shell, G. schale, OHG. sc[=a]la, Dan. skaal drinking cup, bowl, dish, and perh. to E. scale of a fish. Cf. {Scale}… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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. [1913 Webster] Scaling his present bearing with his past. Shak. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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. [1913 Webster] 2. To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface. If all the mountains were… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scale — Scale, v. t. [Cf. It. scalare, fr. L. scalae, 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. [1913 Webster] Oft have I scaled the craggy …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scale-up —   [skeɪl ʌp, englisch] das, , Bezeichnung für die Maßstabsvergrößerung bei Anlagen der Verfahrenstechnik. Nach der häufig angewandten Ähnlichkeitstheorie werden bei der Übertragung von Laborergebnissen in den großtechnischen Maßstab möglichst… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • scale — [n1] graduated system calibration, computation, degrees, extent, gamut, gradation, hierarchy, ladder, order, pecking order*, progression, proportion, range, ranking, rate, ratio, reach, register, rule, scope, sequence, series, spectrum, spread,… …   New thesaurus

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