Scale
/skeɪl/
Definitions
7 meaningsAn instrument for weighing, especially one that shows the weight of something.
/skeɪl/
A device for measuring weight
The farmer used a scale to measure the weight of the pumpkins.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're at the grocery store. The scale is the thing they put your apples on to see how much they cost. It tells you how heavy things are!
👶 For kids: A scale is like a measuring tool that tells you how heavy something is.
More Examples
The doctor asked the patient to step on the scale.
Accurate scales are essential for scientific research.
How It's Used
"The butcher used a scale to weigh the meat."
"She stepped on the scale to check her weight."
A set of numbers, amounts, etc., used for measuring or comparing something.
/skeɪl/
A system of ordered numbers or values
The map was drawn to a scale of 1:50,000, meaning 1 cm on the map represents 50,000 cm in reality.
💡 Simply: Think of a ruler. The inches are a scale – they show you the size of something. Or, the music scale goes up and down the notes.
👶 For kids: A scale is like a set of numbers that help us measure things, like how big something is or how strong an earthquake is.
More Examples
The earthquake registered a 7.5 on the Richter scale.
She practiced her scales daily to improve her piano playing.
How It's Used
"The map was drawn to a scale of 1:10,000."
"She practiced her scales on the piano."
"The Richter scale measures the magnitude of earthquakes."
The size or extent of something, especially in comparison to something else.
/skeɪl/
The relative size or extent of something
The project was completed on a large scale.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're looking at a map. The scale is how much the map is reduced or enlarged.
👶 For kids: When we talk about scale, we mean how big something is or how much of something there is.
More Examples
The scale of the disaster was unprecedented.
The company is considering scaling back its operations.
How It's Used
"The company is planning to expand its operations on a global scale."
"The scale of the conflict was devastating."
A small, thin, rigid plate that grows on the skin of a fish or reptile.
/skeɪl/
A thin, horny plate protecting the skin of fish or reptiles
The fish's scales were iridescent.
💡 Simply: Like the little plates on a fish or a snake's skin. They're like tiny shields.
👶 For kids: Scales are like tiny shields that cover the skin of fish and snakes.
More Examples
The snake's scales felt smooth and cool.
She carefully cleaned the scales off the fish.
How It's Used
"The fish's scales shimmered in the sunlight."
"The snake shed its scales."
To climb up or over something, especially a steep surface.
/skeɪl/
To climb
They scaled the wall to get into the fortress.
💡 Simply: Think of climbing a tall wall or a mountain – that's scaling.
👶 For kids: To scale means to climb up something, like a mountain or a wall.
More Examples
The climbers scaled the sheer cliff face.
She scaled the company's hierarchy.
How It's Used
"The mountaineers scaled the treacherous peak."
"She scaled the corporate ladder."
To change the size or extent of something, usually proportionally.
/skeɪl/
To measure or estimate the size, amount, or extent of
The artist scaled the drawing to fit the canvas.
💡 Simply: Like making a picture bigger or smaller on your computer. You're changing its scale.
👶 For kids: To scale means to change the size of something, making it bigger or smaller.
More Examples
The company scaled its production up to meet demand.
The software allowed them to scale the video to any resolution.
How It's Used
"The engineers scaled the image to fit the screen."
"The company is planning to scale its operations."
To remove the scales from a fish.
/skeɪl/
To remove the scales of fish
He carefully scaled the fish with a special knife.
💡 Simply: When you're making fish for dinner, you might take off the little, hard, shiny bits on the outside. That's scaling the fish!
👶 For kids: To scale a fish is to take off the little shiny things (scales) on its skin so you can cook it.
More Examples
Scaling the fish is an important step in preparing it for cooking.
The chef showed the apprentice how to scale a fish.
How It's Used
"She scaled the fish before cooking it."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
tip the scales
To influence the outcome, often in a decisive way; to change a situation by a small action or decision.
"The new evidence tipped the scales in favor of the defendant."
scales fell from (someone's) eyes
To suddenly understand or realize something that one had not understood before; to gain a new perspective or awareness.
"When she saw his true behavior, the scales fell from her eyes."
From Old Norse *skáli* ('bowl, cup, shell'), reflecting the original meaning of a balance pan. Later evolved to mean an instrument for weighing and, by extension, size or degree.
The word "scale" has been used for weighing instruments since the 13th century. The meaning related to measurement and size evolved later.
Memory tip
Think of scales in a courtroom, they represent balance and measure.
Word Origin
"bowl, cup, shell"