SCALE

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does scale mean? 

• SCALE (noun)
  The noun SCALE has 10 senses:

1. an ordered reference standard

2. relative magnitude

3. the ratio between the size of something and a representation of it

4. a specialized leaf or bract that protects a bud or catkin

5. a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin

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

7. a measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass

8. an indicator having a graduated sequence of marks

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

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

  Familiarity information: SCALE used as a noun is familiar.

• SCALE (verb)
  The verb SCALE has 8 senses:

1. measure by or as if by a scale

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

3. take by attacking with scaling ladders

4. reach the highest point of

5. climb up by means of a ladder

6. remove the scales from

7. measure with or as if with scales

8. size or measure according to a scale

  Familiarity information: SCALE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SCALE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An ordered reference standard

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Synonyms:

graduated table; ordered series; scale; scale of measurement

Context example:

judging on a scale of 1 to 10

Hypernyms ("scale" is a kind of...):

criterion; measure; standard; touchstone (a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scale"):

Beaufort scale; wind scale (an international scale of wind force from 0 (calm air) to 12 (hurricane))

index (a numerical scale used to compare variables with one another or with some reference number)

logarithmic scale (scale on which actual distances from the origin are proportional to the logarithms of the corresponding scale numbers)

Mercalli scale (a scale formerly used to describe the magnitude of an earthquake; an earthquake detected only by seismographs is a I and an earthquake that destroys all buildings is a XII)

Mohs scale (a scale of hardness of solids; talc is 0 and diamond is 10; ordering is determined by which substance can scratch another substance)

Richter scale (a logarithmic scale of 1 to 10 formerly used to express the magnitude of an earthquake on the basis of the size of seismograph oscillations)

moment magnitude scale (a logarithmic scale of 1 to 10 (a successor to the Richter scale) that enables seismologists to compare the energy released by different earthquakes on the basis of the area of the geological fault that ruptured in the quake)

temperature scale (a system of measuring temperature)

wage scale; wage schedule (a schedule of wages paid for different jobs)

Derivation:

scale (size or measure according to a scale)

scale (pattern, make, regulate, set, measure, or estimate according to some rate or standard)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Relative magnitude

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Context example:

they entertained on a grand scale

Hypernyms ("scale" is a kind of...):

magnitude relation; quantitative relation (a relation between magnitudes)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The ratio between the size of something and a representation of it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Context example:

the scale of the model

Hypernyms ("scale" is a kind of...):

proportion (the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole)

Derivation:

scale (size or measure according to a scale)

scale (pattern, make, regulate, set, measure, or estimate according to some rate or standard)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A specialized leaf or bract that protects a bud or catkin

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

scale; scale leaf

Hypernyms ("scale" is a kind of...):

foliage; leaf; leafage (the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scale"):

squamule (a minute scale)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

exfoliation; scale; scurf

Hypernyms ("scale" is a kind of...):

bit; chip; flake; fleck; scrap (a small fragment of something broken off from the whole)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scale"):

dander (small scales from animal skins or hair or bird feathers that can cause allergic reactions in some people)

dandruff (loose scales shed from the scalp)

Sense 6

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

musical scale; scale

Hypernyms ("scale" is a kind of...):

musical notation ((music) notation used by musicians)

Meronyms (members of "scale"):

musical note; note; tone (a notation representing the pitch and duration of a musical sound)

Domain category:

music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scale"):

gamut (the entire scale of musical notes)

diatonic scale (a scale with eight notes in an octave; all but two are separated by whole tones)

chromatic scale (a 12-note scale including all the semitones of the octave)

gapped scale (a musical scale with fewer than seven notes)

Derivation:

scalar (of or relating to a musical scale)

scalic (of or related to a musical scale)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

scale; weighing machine

Hypernyms ("scale" is a kind of...):

measuring device; measuring instrument; measuring system (instrument that shows the extent or amount or quantity or degree of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scale"):

balance (a scale for weighing; depends on pull of gravity)

weighbridge (platform scale flush with a roadway for weighing vehicles and cattle etc)

Derivation:

scale (measure with or as if with scales)

scale (measure by or as if by a scale)

Sense 8

Meaning:

An indicator having a graduated sequence of marks

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("scale" is a kind of...):

indicator (a device for showing the operating condition of some system)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scale"):

vernier; vernier scale (a small movable scale that slides along a main scale; the small scale is calibrated to indicate fractional divisions of the main scale)

Derivation:

scale (size or measure according to a scale)

Sense 9

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

plate; scale; shell

Hypernyms ("scale" is a kind of...):

shield (a protective covering or structure)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scale"):

armor plate; armor plating; armour plate; plate armor; plate armour (specially hardened steel plate used to protect fortifications or vehicles from enemy fire)

horseshoe; shoe (U-shaped plate nailed to underside of horse's hoof)

shell plating (the plates covering the frame of a steel ship and corresponding to the planking of a wooden ship)

Sense 10

Meaning:

A flattened rigid plate forming part of the body covering of many animals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("scale" is a kind of...):

cover; covering; natural covering (a natural object that covers or envelops)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scale"):

squama (a protective structure resembling a scale)

fish scale (scale of the kind that covers the bodies of fish)

Derivation:

scaley; scaly (having the body covered or partially covered with thin horny plates, as some fish and reptiles)

scaly (rough to the touch; covered with scales or scurf)

scale (remove the scales from)

• SCALE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Measure by or as if by a scale

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

This bike scales only 25 pounds

Hypernyms (to "scale" is one way to...):

measure (have certain dimensions)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

scalage (the act of scaling in weight or quantity or dimension)

scale (a measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass)

scaling (act of measuring or arranging or adjusting according to a scale)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "scale" is one way to...):

model; pattern (plan or create according to a model or models)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

scale (the ratio between the size of something and a representation of it)

scale (an ordered reference standard)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Take by attacking with scaling ladders

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

The troops scaled the walls of the fort

Hypernyms (to "scale" is one way to...):

take (take by force)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

scaling (ascent by or as if by a ladder)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Reach the highest point of

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

scale; surmount

Context example:

We scaled the Mont Blanc

Hypernyms (to "scale" is one way to...):

arrive at; attain; gain; hit; make; reach (reach a destination, either real or abstract)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Climb up by means of a ladder

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "scale" is one way to...):

climb; climb up; go up; mount (go upward with gradual or continuous progress)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

scaling (ascent by or as if by a ladder)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Remove the scales from

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

descale; scale

Context example:

scale fish

Hypernyms (to "scale" is one way to...):

remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

scale (a flattened rigid plate forming part of the body covering of many animals)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Measure with or as if with scales

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

scale the gold

Hypernyms (to "scale" is one way to...):

measure; quantify (express as a number or measure or quantity)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

scale (a measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass)

scaling (act of measuring or arranging or adjusting according to a scale)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Size or measure according to a scale

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

This model must be scaled down

Hypernyms (to "scale" is one way to...):

size (make to a size; bring to a suitable size)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

scale (an indicator having a graduated sequence of marks)

scaling (act of measuring or arranging or adjusting according to a scale)

scale (an ordered reference standard)

scale (the ratio between the size of something and a representation of it)

scalage (the act of scaling in weight or quantity or dimension)

 Context examples 

A twenty-one question survey completed by a patient, with each answer scored on a scale of 0 to 3, designed to measure presence of depression.

(Beck Depression Inventory, NCI Thesaurus)

On the scale I’ve worked out the circles of altitude and the lines of bearing.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

A process that synthesizes a material of interest using a large scale cell culture that is grown in a bioreactor.

(Bioreactor Culture Biosynthesis, NCI Thesaurus)

I must not think too much of this, or I may be tempted; a good cause might turn the scale with me, for may not I too be of an exceptional brain, congenitally?

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The third section is rated on a 0 to 5 scale with 0 being none and 5 being severe.

(Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale Questionnaire, NCI Thesaurus)

Miss Darcy was tall, and on a larger scale than Elizabeth; and, though little more than sixteen, her figure was formed, and her appearance womanly and graceful.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

This technology, which was applied on an industrial scale at the facilities of Biomasa del Guadalquivir, uses a semi-permeable cover (membrane) system that prevents unpleasant smells from escaping and shortens the process time.

(Scientists validate a new technology that transforms sewage sludge into fertilizer more efficiently, University of Granada)

“This way, Watson,” said he, “we can scale the garden wall in this direction.”

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

That trick of staining the fishes’ scales of a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The scales were small, making necessary many weighings, and Messner with precise care verified each weighing.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)