Definition of scale
1a : either pan or tray of a balanceb : a beam that is supported freely in the center and has two pans of equal weight suspended from its ends —usually used in plural
2 : an instrument or machine for weighing
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Recent Examples of scale from the Web
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other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry.
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other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry.
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other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry.
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The global scale of the Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse scandal becomes harder for the Vatican to deny with each shocking national inquiry.
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A far bigger risk is large-scale limestone quarrying by companies producing cement.
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The global scale of the Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse scandal becomes harder for the Vatican to deny with each shocking national inquiry.
-
The global scale of the Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse scandal becomes harder for the Vatican to deny with each shocking national inquiry.
-
Across the board, many worked in large scale, often physically eccentric ways.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scale'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of scale
Middle English scole, scale bowl, scale of a balance, from Old Norse skāl; akin to Old Norse skel shell — more at shell
First Known Use: 14th century
scale
Definition of scale
scaled
;scaling
transitive verb
: to weigh in scales
intransitive verb
: to have a specified weight on scales
Recent Examples of scale from the Web
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After a Department of Homeland Security report detailed the findings, the TSA also scaled back (slightly)
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South Sudan’s National Bureau of Statistics chairman, Isaiah Chol Aruai, acknowledged the problem and called on the international community to scale up aid in coming months.
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Days later, a knife-wielding man scaled the White House fence, ran across the lawn and entered the building before agents stopped him.
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Days later, a knife-wielding man scaled the White House fence, ran across the lawn and entered the building before agents stopped him.
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The chart sorts each ship’s sewage treatment, air pollution emission, and water quality compliance into an easy-to-understand ship grade, scaling from A to F (yes, just like in school).
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On New Year’s Day in 1976, Cal State Northridge student Daniel Finegood scaled Mt. Lee with $50 worth of curtains and changed the sign.
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American efforts to contain Yemen’s al-Qaeda branch, viewed by U.S. officials as the terror group’s most menacing affiliate, have dramatically been scaled back.
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Putin is ordering to scale down the Russian military presence in Syria.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scale'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
1691
First Known Use of scale
1691
scale
Definition of scale
1a : a small, flattened, rigid, and definitely circumscribed plate forming part of the external body covering especially of a fishb : a small thin plate suggesting a fish scale scales of mica the scales on a moth's wingc : the scaly covering of a scaled animal
2 : a small thin dry lamina shed (as in many skin diseases) from the skin
3 : a thin coating, layer, or incrustation: such asa : a usually black scaly coating of oxide forming on the surface of a metal (such as iron) when it is heated for processingb : a hard incrustation usually rich in sulfate of calcium that is deposited on the inside of a vessel (such as a boiler) in which water is heated
4a : a modified leaf protecting a seed plant bud before expansionb : a thin, membranous, chaffy, or woody bract
5a : any of the small overlapping usually metal pieces forming the outer surface of scale armorb : scale armor
6a : scale insectb : infestation with or disease caused by scale insects
Recent Examples of scale from the Web
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other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry.
-
other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry.
-
other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry.
-
The global scale of the Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse scandal becomes harder for the Vatican to deny with each shocking national inquiry.
-
A far bigger risk is large-scale limestone quarrying by companies producing cement.
-
The global scale of the Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse scandal becomes harder for the Vatican to deny with each shocking national inquiry.
-
The global scale of the Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse scandal becomes harder for the Vatican to deny with each shocking national inquiry.
-
Across the board, many worked in large scale, often physically eccentric ways.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scale'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of scale
Middle English, from Anglo-French escale, eschale, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English scealu shell, husk — more at shell
First Known Use: 14th century
scale
Definition of scale
scaled
;scaling
transitive verb
1 : to remove the scale or scales from (as by scraping) scale a fish
2 : to take off in thin layers or scales scale tartar from the teeth
3 : to throw (something, such as a thin, flat stone) so that the edge cuts the air or so that it skips on water : skim
intransitive verb
1 : to separate and come off in scales : flake
2 : to shed scales scaling skin
Recent Examples of scale from the Web
-
After a Department of Homeland Security report detailed the findings, the TSA also scaled back (slightly)
-
South Sudan’s National Bureau of Statistics chairman, Isaiah Chol Aruai, acknowledged the problem and called on the international community to scale up aid in coming months.
-
Days later, a knife-wielding man scaled the White House fence, ran across the lawn and entered the building before agents stopped him.
-
Days later, a knife-wielding man scaled the White House fence, ran across the lawn and entered the building before agents stopped him.
-
The chart sorts each ship’s sewage treatment, air pollution emission, and water quality compliance into an easy-to-understand ship grade, scaling from A to F (yes, just like in school).
-
On New Year’s Day in 1976, Cal State Northridge student Daniel Finegood scaled Mt. Lee with $50 worth of curtains and changed the sign.
-
American efforts to contain Yemen’s al-Qaeda branch, viewed by U.S. officials as the terror group’s most menacing affiliate, have dramatically been scaled back.
-
Putin is ordering to scale down the Russian military presence in Syria.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scale'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
15th Century
First Known Use of scale
15th century
scale
Definition of scale
scaled
;scaling
transitive verb
1a : to attack with or take by means of scaling ladders scale a castle wallb : to climb up or reach by means of a ladderc : to reach the highest point of : surmount scale a mountain
2a : to arrange in a graduated seriesb (1) : to measure by or as if by a scale (2) : to measure or estimate the sound content of (logs, standing timber, etc.)c : to pattern, make, regulate, set, or estimate according to some rate or standard : adjust a production schedule scaled to actual need —often used with back, down, or up scale down imports
intransitive verb
1 : to climb by or as if by a ladder
2 : to rise in a graduated series
3 : measure
Recent Examples of scale from the Web
-
After a Department of Homeland Security report detailed the findings, the TSA also scaled back (slightly)
-
South Sudan’s National Bureau of Statistics chairman, Isaiah Chol Aruai, acknowledged the problem and called on the international community to scale up aid in coming months.
-
Days later, a knife-wielding man scaled the White House fence, ran across the lawn and entered the building before agents stopped him.
-
Days later, a knife-wielding man scaled the White House fence, ran across the lawn and entered the building before agents stopped him.
-
The chart sorts each ship’s sewage treatment, air pollution emission, and water quality compliance into an easy-to-understand ship grade, scaling from A to F (yes, just like in school).
-
On New Year’s Day in 1976, Cal State Northridge student Daniel Finegood scaled Mt. Lee with $50 worth of curtains and changed the sign.
-
American efforts to contain Yemen’s al-Qaeda branch, viewed by U.S. officials as the terror group’s most menacing affiliate, have dramatically been scaled back.
-
Putin is ordering to scale down the Russian military presence in Syria.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scale'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of scale
Middle English, from 6scale
First Known Use: 14th century
scale
Definition of scale
1a obsolete : ladderb archaic : a means of ascent
2 : a graduated series of musical tones ascending or descending in order of pitch according to a specified scheme of their intervals
3 : something graduated especially when used as a measure or rule: such asa : a series of marks or points at known intervals used to measure distances (such as the height of the mercury in a thermometer)b : an indication of the relationship between the distances on a map and the corresponding actual distancesc : ruler 3
4a : a graduated series or scheme of rank or order a scale of taxationb : minimum wage 2
5a : a proportion between two sets of dimensions (as between those of a drawing and its original)b : a distinctive relative size, extent, or degree projects done on a large scale
6 : a graded series of tests or of performances used in rating individual intelligence or achievement
scale
adjectiveto scale
: according to the proportions of an established scale of measurement floor plans drawn to scale
Recent Examples of scale from the Web
-
other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry.
-
other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry.
-
other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry.
-
The global scale of the Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse scandal becomes harder for the Vatican to deny with each shocking national inquiry.
-
A far bigger risk is large-scale limestone quarrying by companies producing cement.
-
The global scale of the Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse scandal becomes harder for the Vatican to deny with each shocking national inquiry.
-
The global scale of the Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse scandal becomes harder for the Vatican to deny with each shocking national inquiry.
-
Across the board, many worked in large scale, often physically eccentric ways.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scale'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of scale
Middle English, from Late Latin scala ladder, staircase, from Latin scalae, plural, stairs, rungs, ladder; akin to Latin scandere to climb — more at scan
First Known Use: 15th century
scale
Definition of scale
1 obsolete : escalade
2 : an estimate of the amount of sound lumber in logs or standing timber
Recent Examples of scale from the Web
-
other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry.
-
other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry.
-
other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry.
-
The global scale of the Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse scandal becomes harder for the Vatican to deny with each shocking national inquiry.
-
A far bigger risk is large-scale limestone quarrying by companies producing cement.
-
The global scale of the Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse scandal becomes harder for the Vatican to deny with each shocking national inquiry.
-
The global scale of the Catholic clergy’s sexual abuse scandal becomes harder for the Vatican to deny with each shocking national inquiry.
-
Across the board, many worked in large scale, often physically eccentric ways.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scale'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of scale
5scale
First Known Use: circa 1587
SCALE Defined for Kids
Definition of scale for Students
1 : either pan of a balance or the balance itself
2 : a device for weighing
Definition of scale for Students
1 : one of the small stiff plates that cover much of the body of some animals (as fish and snakes)
2 : a thin layer or part suggesting a fish scale the scales on a butterfly's wing
scaled
\ˈskāld\ adjectivescaleless
\ˈskāl-ləs\ adjective a scaleless fishDefinition of scale for Students
scaled
;scaling
1 : to climb by or as if by a ladder Climbers scaled the cliff.
2 : to regulate or set according to a standard —often used with down or up I scaled down my plan.
Definition of scale for Students
1 : a series of musical tones going up or down in pitch in fixed steps
2 : a series of spaces marked off by lines and used for measuring distances or amounts a thermometer's scale
3 : a series of like things arranged in order (as according to size or degree) a color scale
4 : the size of a picture, plan, or model of a thing compared to the size of the thing itself The scale of the model is {frac1/35}.
5 : a standard for measuring or judging On a scale of one to ten, I give it an eight.
6 : the size or extent of something especially in comparison to something else They throw parties on a large scale.
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of scale
1a: either pan or tray of a balanceb: a beam that is supported freely in the center and has two pans of equal weight suspended from its ends—usually used in plural
2: an instrument or machine for weighing
scale
Medical Definition of scale
1: a small thin dry lamina shed (as in many skin diseases) from the skin
2: a film of tartar encrusting the teeth
scale
Medical Definition of scale
1: a series of marks or points at known intervals used to measure distances (as the height of the mercury in a thermometer)
2: a graduated series or scheme of rank or order
3: a graded series of tests or of performances used in rating individual intelligence or achievement
Law Dictionary
scale
Legal Definition of scale
: a set of graduated wage rates; also : a wage consistent with such rates — compare minimum wage
Learn More about scale
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See words that rhyme with scale Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for scale Spanish Central: Translation of scale Nglish: Translation of scale for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of scale for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scale
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