Scale
Definition of Scale
Pronunciation: skāl n. | 1. | 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. | (Astron.) The sign or constellation Libra. | v. t. | 1. | To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system. | n. | 1. | (Anat.) 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, and Ganoid. | | 2. | 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. | | 3. | (Zool.) 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. | | 4. | (Zool.) A scale insect. (See below. | | 5. | (Bot.) 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. | | 6. | The thin metallic side plate of the handle of a pocketknife. See Illust. of Pocketknife. | | 7. | An incrustation deposit on the inside of a vessel in which water is heated, as a steam boiler. | | 8. | (Metal.) 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.Ganoid scale | (Zool.) See under Ganoid. |
| v. t. | 1. | To strip or clear of scale or scales; as, to scale a fish; to scale the inside of a boiler. | | 2. | To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface. | | 3. | To scatter; to spread. | | 4. | (Gun.) To clean, as the inside of a cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder. | v. i. | 1. | To separate and come off in thin layers or laminæ; as, some sandstone scales by exposure. | | 2. | To separate; to scatter. | n. | 1. | A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending. | | 2. | (Mus.) Hence, anything graduated, especially when employed as a measure or rule, or marked by lines at regular intervals. | | 3. | Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order; as, a scale of being. | | 4. | 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. | v. t. | 1. | 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. | v. i. | 1. | To lead up by steps; to ascend. |
Related Words
Danish balance, Indian file, Lambert conformal projection, Mercator projection, Miller projection, Roman balance, Weightometer, accommodation ladder, adjust, aeronautical chart, alloy balance, amount, amplitude, analytical balance, area, arrange in layers, array, articulation, ascend, assay balance, astronomical chart, atlas, azimuthal equidistant projection, azimuthal projection, balance of precision, bank, barometer, barrel scale, beam, bigness, board, body, breach, breadth, break, breakage, bulk, bullion balance, burst, bust, buzz, cake, caking, caliber, calibration, canon, carry, cartographer, cartography, catena, catenation, celestial chart, celestial globe, chain, chain reaction, chaining, chart, check, chip, chip off, chorographer, chorography, chromatic scale, clamber, clamber up, cleft, climatic chart, climb over, climb up, coat, coating, compass, concatenation, conic projection, connection, consecution, continuum, contour line, contour map, counter scale, course, coverage, crack, criterion, crust, cut, cycle, cylinder scale, cylindrical projection, dandruff, decorticate, decrease, degree, delaminate, depth, descent, desquamate, diameter, diapason, dimension, dimensions, diminish, dodecuple scale, doorstep, drone, drum scale, enamel, encrustation, endless belt, endless round, enharmonic scale, enlarge, escalade, escalate, eschar, exfoliate, expanse, expansion, extension, extension ladder, extent, facing, fan scale, file, filiation, film, fissure, flake, flake off, flexure plate scale, floccule, flocculus, flock, folding ladder, footrest, footstep, foray, fracture, fur, gamut, gangway ladder, gap, gauge, general reference map, girth, globe, gnomonic projection, go up, gradation, grade, graduated scale, graduation, graphic scale, great scale, greatness, grid line, hachure, height, heliographic chart, hierarchy, hum, hydrographic chart, imbrication, increase, incrustation, index, inroad, interval, inundate, invade, isoline, lacquer, ladder, lamella, lamina, laminate, largeness, latitude, lay down, lay up, layer, layer tint, leap, legend, length, level, lever scales, line, lineage, long-arm balance, longitude, lower, magnitude, major scale, make a raid, make an inroad, map, map maker, map projection, mapper, mark, mass, measure, measurement, melodic minor, meridian, minor scale, model, monotone, mount, nexus, norm, notch, nuance, octave scale, overlay, overwhelm, paint, pair of scales, parallel, parameter, paring, pas, pastry shell, pattern, peel, peg, pellicle, pendulum, pentatonic scale, period, periodicity, photogrammetrist, photogrammetry, photomap, phototopography, physical map, piecrust, pitch, plane, plaque, plate, plate fulcrum scale, plateau, platform scale, plenum, point, political map, polyconic projection, powder train, precision balance, precision scale, progression, projection, proportions, prorate, quantity, quarter ladder, queue, radius, raid, raise, ramp, rank, ranking, rate, ratio, reach, reading, readout, recurrence, reduce, register, regulate, relief map, remove, rent, representative fraction, rest, reticulation, revetment, rift, rip, riser, road map, rotation, round, routine, row, rule, run, rundle, rung, rupture, scab, scale off, scale the heights, scale the walls, scales, scope, scrabble up, scramble up, scum, scurf, scute, scutum, sequence, series, shade, shadow, shaving, shell, shin, shin up, shinny, short-arm balance, single file, sinusoidal projection, size, skin, slash, slice, slit, snap, space, special map, spectrum, spiral balance, splinter, split, spoke, spread, stair, stalactite, stalagmite, standard, stave, step, step stool, stepladder, stepping-stone, stern ladder, stint, storm, stratify, stretch, string, strip, struggle up, succession, surmount, swath, sweep, take by storm, tartar, tear, temperament, terrain map, terrestrial globe, test, thematic map, thread, tier, topographer, topographic chart, topography, touchstone, train, transportation map, tread, tuning, type, upclimb, upgo, value, varnish, veneer, volume, weather chart, weather map, weigh scales, weighbridge, weighing machine, weight voltameter, whole-tone scale, width, windrow, yardstick
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