SCALE

Pronunciation (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. an indicator having a graduated sequence of marks
5. a specialized leaf or bract that protects a bud or catkin
6. a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin
7. (music) a series of notes differing in pitch according to a specific scheme (usually within an octave)
8. a measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass
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

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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"):

temperature scale (a system of measuring temperature)

Richter scale (a logarithmic scale of 1 to 10 used to express the energy released by an earthquake)

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)

Mercalli scale (a scale of earthquake intensity; an earthquake detected only by seismographs is a I and an earthquake that destroys all buildings is a XII)

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

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

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

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

Sense 2

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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 examples:

the scale of the map / 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)

Sense 4

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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)

Sense 5

scale [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A specialized leaf or bract that protects a bud or catkin

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

scale leaf; scale

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 6

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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; scurf; scale

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 7

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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 (a 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"):

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

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

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

gamut (the entire scale of musical notes)

Sense 8

scale [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

weighing machine; scale

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)

Sense 9

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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:

scale; shell; plate

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

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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"):

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

squama (a protective structure resembling a scale)

• SCALE (verb)

Sense 1

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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

Sense 2

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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

Sense 3

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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

Sense 4

scale [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Reach the highest point of

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

surmount; scale

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

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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

Sense 6

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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

Sense 7

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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

Sense 8

scale [BACK TO TOP]

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