scale

Definitions

1. 1noun

   The dish of a balance; hence, the balance itself; an instrument or machine for weighing; as, to turn the scale; -- chiefly used in the plural when applied to the whole instrument or apparatus for weighing. Also used figuratively.

2. 2noun

   The sign or constellation Libra.

3. 3transitive verb

   To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system.

4. 4noun

   One of the small, thin, membranous, bony or horny pieces which form the covering of many fishes and reptiles, and some mammals, belonging to the dermal part of the skeleton, or dermoskeleton. See Cycloid, Ctenoid Ganoid.

5. 5noun

   Hence, any layer or leaf of metal or other material, resembling in size and thinness the scale of a fish; as, a scale of iron, of bone, etc.

6. 6noun

   One of the small scalelike structures covering parts of some invertebrates, as those on the wings of Lepidoptera and on the body of Thysanura; the elytra of certain annelids. See Lepidoptera.

7. 7noun

   A scale insect. (See below.)

8. 8noun

   A small appendage like a rudimentary leaf, resembling the scales of a fish in form, and often in arrangement; as, the scale of a bud, of a pine cone, and the like. The name is also given to the chaff on the stems of ferns.

9. 9noun

   The thin metallic side plate of the handle of a pocketknife. See Illust. of Pocketknife.

10. 10noun

    An incrustation deposit on the inside of a vessel in which water is heated, as a steam boiler.

11. 11noun

    The thin oxide which forms on the surface of iron forgings. It consists essentially of the magnetic oxide, Fe3O4. Also, a similar coating upon other metals.

12. 12transitive verb

    To strip or clear of scale or scales; as, to scale a fish; to scale the inside of a boiler.

13. 13transitive verb

    To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface.

14. 14transitive verb

    To scatter; to spread.

15. 15transitive verb

    To clean, as the inside of a cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder.

16. 16intransitive verb

    To separate and come off in thin layers or laminae; as, some sandstone scales by exposure.

17. 17intransitive verb

    To separate; to scatter.

18. 18noun

    A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending.

19. 19noun

    Hence, anything graduated, especially when employed as a measure or rule, or marked by lines at regular intervals.

20. 20noun

    A mathematical instrument, consisting of a slip of wood, ivory, or metal, with one or more sets of spaces graduated and numbered on its surface, for measuring or laying off distances, etc., as in drawing, plotting, and the like. See Gunter's scale.

21. 21noun

    A series of spaces marked by lines, and representing proportionately larger distances; as, a scale of miles, yards, feet, etc., for a map or plan.

22. 22noun

    A basis for a numeral system; as, the decimal scale; the binary scale, etc.

23. 23noun

    The graduated series of all the tones, ascending or descending, from the keynote to its octave; -- called also the gamut. It may be repeated through any number of octaves. See Chromatic scale, Diatonic scale, Major scale, and Minor scale, under Chromatic, Diatonic, Major, and Minor.

24. 24noun

    Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order; as, a scale of being.

25. 25noun

    Relative dimensions, without difference in proportion of parts; size or degree of the parts or components in any complex thing, compared with other like things; especially, the relative proportion of the linear dimensions of the parts of a drawing, map, model, etc., to the dimensions of the corresponding parts of the object that is represented; as, a map on a scale of an inch to a mile.

26. 26transitive verb

    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.

27. 27intransitive verb

    To lead up by steps; to ascend.

28. 28noun

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

29. 29noun

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

    Synonyms

    plateshell
30. 30noun

    an indicator having a graduated sequence of marks

31. 31noun

    a measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass

32. 32noun

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

33. 33noun

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

    Synonyms

    exfoliationscurf
34. 34noun

    a specialized leaf or bract that protects a bud or catkin

35. 35noun

    relative magnitude

    "they entertained on a grand scale"

36. 36noun

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

    "the scale of the map"

    "the scale of the model"

37. 37noun

    an ordered reference standard

    "judging on a scale of 1 to 10"

38. 38verb

    size or measure according to a scale

    "This model must be scaled down"

39. 39verb

    measure with or as if with scales

    "scale the gold"

40. 40verb

    remove the scales from

    "scale fish"

    Synonyms

    descale
41. 41verb

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

42. 42verb

    climb up by means of a ladder

43. 43verb

    reach the highest point of

    "We scaled the Mont Blanc"

    Synonyms

    surmount
44. 44verb

    take by attacking with scaling ladders

    "The troops scaled the walls of the fort"

45. 45verb

    measure by or as if by a scale

    "This bike scales only 25 pounds"