1
: an instrument or machine for weighing
2
a
: a beam that is supported freely in the center and has two pans of equal weight suspended from its ends
—usually used in plural
b
: either pan or tray of a balance
1
a
: a small, flattened, rigid, and definitely circumscribed plate forming part of the external body covering especially of a fish
b
: a small thin plate suggesting a fish scale
scales of mica
the scales on a moth's wing
c
: the scaly covering of a scaled animal
2
: a small thin dry lamina shed (as in many skin diseases) from the skin
3
: a thin coating, layer, or incrustation: such as
a
: a usually black scaly coating of oxide forming on the surface of a metal (such as iron) when it is heated for processing
b
: a hard incrustation usually rich in sulfate of calcium that is deposited on the inside of a vessel (such as a boiler) in which water is heated
4
a
: a modified leaf protecting a seed plant bud before expansion
b
: a thin, membranous, chaffy, or woody bract
5
a
: any of the small overlapping usually metal pieces forming the outer surface of scale armor
b
6
a
b
: infestation with or disease caused by scale insects
scaled; scaling
1
: a graduated series of musical tones ascending or descending in order of pitch according to a specified scheme of their intervals
2
: something graduated especially when used as a measure or rule: such as
a
: an indication of the relationship between the distances on a map and the corresponding actual distances
b
: a series of marks or points at known intervals used to measure distances (such as the height of the mercury in a thermometer)
c
3
a
: a graduated series or scheme of rank or order
a scale of taxation
4
a
: a proportion between two sets of dimensions (as between those of a drawing and its original)
b
: a distinctive relative size, extent, or degree
projects done on a large scale
5
: a graded series of tests or of performances used in rating individual intelligence or achievement
6
a
archaic
: a means of ascent
b
obsolete
: ladder
scale
adjective
scaled; scaling
1
a
: to climb up or reach by means of a ladder
b
: to attack with or take by means of scaling ladders
scale a castle wall
c
: to reach the highest point of : surmount
scale a mountain
2
a
: to pattern, make, regulate, set, or estimate according to some rate or standard : adjust
a production schedule scaled to actual need
—often used with back, down, or upscale down imports
b
: to arrange in a graduated series
c(1)
: to measure by or as if by a scale
(2)
: to measure or estimate the sound content of (logs, standing timber, etc.)
1
: an estimate of the amount of sound lumber in logs or standing timber
2
obsolete
: escalade
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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