scale

scale¹ / skāl/ • n. 1. each of the small, thin horny or bony plates protecting the skin of fish and reptiles, typically overlapping one another. 2. something resembling a fish scale in appearance or function, in particular: ∎  a thick dry flake of skin. ∎  a rudimentary leaf, feather, or bract. ∎  each of numerous microscopic tilelike structures covering the wings of butterflies and moths. 3. a flaky deposit, in particular: ∎  a white deposit formed in a kettle, boiler, etc., by the evaporation of water containing lime. ∎  tartar formed on teeth. ∎  a coating of oxide formed on heated metal. • v. 1. [tr.] remove scale or scales from: he scales the fish and removes the innards. ∎  remove tartar from (teeth) by scraping them. 2. [intr.] [often as n.] (scaling) (esp. of the skin) form scales: moisturizers can ease off drying and scaling. ∎  come off in scales or thin pieces; flake off: the paint was scaling from the brick walls. DERIVATIVES: scaled / skāld/ adj. [often in comb.] a rough-scaled fish. scale·less / ˈskāl(l)is/ adj. scal·er n. scale² • n. (usu. scales) an instrument for weighing. Scales were originally simple balances ( pairs of scales) but are now usually devices with an internal weighing mechanism housed under a platform on which the thing to be weighed is placed, with a gauge or electronic display showing the weight. ∎  (also scale·pan) either of the dishes on a simple balance. scale³ • n. 1. a graduated range of values forming a standard system for measuring or grading something: company employees have hit the top of their pay scales. ∎  a series of marks at regular intervals in a line used in measuring something: the mean delivery time is plotted against a scale on the right. ∎  a device having such a series of marks: she read the exact distance off a scale. ∎  a rule determining the distances between such marks: the vertical axis is given on a logarithmic scale. 2. [in sing.] the relative size or extent of something: no one foresaw the scale of the disaster. ∎  [often as adj.] a ratio of size in a map, model, drawing, or plan: a one-fifth scale model of a seven-story building. ∎  (in full scale of notation) Math. a system of numerical notation in which the value of a digit depends upon its position in the number, successive positions representing successive powers of a fixed base: the conversion of the number to the binary scale. ∎  Photog. the range of exposures over which a photographic material will give an acceptable variation in density. 3. Mus. an arrangement of the notes in any system of music in ascending or descending order of pitch: the scale of C major. • v. [tr.] 1. climb up or over (something high and steep): thieves scaled an 8-foot fence. 2. represent in proportional dimensions; reduce or increase in size according to a common scale: [as adj.] (scaled) scaled plans of the house. ∎  [intr.] (of a quantity or property) be variable according to a particular scale. 3. estimate the amount of timber that will be produced from (a log or uncut tree). PHRASES: play (or sing or practice) scales Mus. perform the notes of a scale as an exercise for the fingers or voice. to scale with a uniform reduction or enlargement: it is hard to build models to scale from a drawing.PHRASAL VERBS: scale something back reduce something in size, number, or extent, esp. by a constant proportion across the board: in the short term, even scaling back defense costs money. scale something down (or scale down) reduce something (or be reduced) in size, number or extent, esp. by a constant proportion across the board: manufacturing capacity has been scaled down his whole income scaled down by 20 percent. scale something up (or scale up) increase something (or be increased) in size or number: one cannot suddenly scale up a laboratory procedure by a thousandfold.DERIVATIVES: scal·er n. ORIGIN: late Middle English: from Latin scala ‘ladder’ (the verb via Old French escaler or medieval Latin scalare ‘climb’), from the base of Latin scandere ‘to climb.’