An Encylopedia Britannica Company

scale

1 scale /ˈskeɪl/ noun
plural scales
1 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
noun
plural scales
Britannica Dictionary definition of SCALE
: a device that is used for weighing people or things
[count]
[plural]
see picture at bathroom

tip the scales

see 1tip
compare 2scale, 4scale
2 scale /ˈskeɪl/ noun
plural scales
2 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
noun
plural scales
Britannica Dictionary definition of SCALE
[count]
: one of many small thin plates that cover the bodies of some animals (such as fish or snakes)
compare 1scale, 4scale
3 scale /ˈskeɪl/ verb
scales; scaled; scaling
3 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
verb
scales; scaled; scaling
Britannica Dictionary definition of SCALE
[+ object]
: to remove the scales from (a fish)
compare 5scale
4 scale /ˈskeɪl/ noun
plural scales
4 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
noun
plural scales
Britannica Dictionary definition of SCALE
[count] : a series of musical notes that go up or down in pitch
[count] : a line on a map or chart that shows a specific unit of measure (such as an inch) used to represent a larger unit (such as a mile) : the relationship between the distances on a map and the actual distances
[count] : a range of numbers that is used to show the size, strength, or quality of something usually singular
see also richter scale
[count] : a range of levels of something from lowest to highest
see also sliding scale
[noncount] used to describe a model, drawing, etc., in which all of the parts of something relate to each other in the same way that they do in the larger form
[singular] : the size or level of something especially in comparison to something else
see also full-scale, large-scale, small-scale
[noncount] technical : a hard substance that is formed in pipes or containers holding water
[noncount] British : a hard substance that forms on teeth : tartar
compare 1scale, 2scale
5 scale /ˈskeɪl/ verb
scales; scaled; scaling
5 scale
/ˈskeɪl/
verb
scales; scaled; scaling
Britannica Dictionary definition of SCALE
[+ object]
: to climb to the top of (something) sometimes used figuratively

scale back/down

[phrasal verb]
scale back/down (something) or scale (something) back/down
: to decrease the size, amount, or extent of (something)

scale up

[phrasal verb]
scale up (something) or scale (something) up
: to increase the size, amount, or extent of (something)
compare 3scale