scale

1 of 7

noun (1)

1
: an instrument or machine for weighing
2
a
: a beam that is supported freely in the center and has two pans of equal weight suspended from its ends
usually used in plural
b
: either pan or tray of a balance

scale

2 of 7

verb (1)

scaled; scaling

transitive verb

: to weigh in scales

intransitive verb

: to have a specified weight on scales

scale

3 of 7

noun (2)

1
a
: a small, flattened, rigid, and definitely circumscribed plate forming part of the external body covering especially of a fish
b
: a small thin plate suggesting a fish scale
scales of mica
the scales on a moth's wing
c
: 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 as
a
: a usually black scaly coating of oxide forming on the surface of a metal (such as iron) when it is heated for processing
b
: 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
4
a
: a modified leaf protecting a seed plant bud before expansion
b
: a thin, membranous, chaffy, or woody bract
5
a
: any of the small overlapping usually metal pieces forming the outer surface of scale armor
6
b
: infestation with or disease caused by scale insects
scaled adjective
scaleless adjective

scale

4 of 7

verb (2)

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

scale

5 of 7

noun (3)

1
: a graduated series of musical tones ascending or descending in order of pitch according to a specified scheme of their intervals
2
: something graduated especially when used as a measure or rule: such as
a
: an indication of the relationship between the distances on a map and the corresponding actual distances
b
: a series of marks or points at known intervals used to measure distances (such as the height of the mercury in a thermometer)
3
a
: a graduated series or scheme of rank or order
a scale of taxation
4
a
: 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
5
: a graded series of tests or of performances used in rating individual intelligence or achievement
6
a
archaic : a means of ascent
b
obsolete : ladder
scale adjective

scale

6 of 7

verb (3)

scaled; scaling

transitive verb

1
a
: to climb up or reach by means of a ladder
b
: to attack with or take by means of scaling ladders
scale a castle wall
c
: to reach the highest point of : surmount
scale a mountain
2
a
: 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
b
: to arrange in a graduated series
c(1)
: to measure by or as if by a scale
(2)
: to measure or estimate the sound content of (logs, standing timber, etc.)

intransitive verb

1
: to climb by or as if by a ladder
2
: to rise in a graduated series
3

scale

7 of 7

noun (4)

1
: an estimate of the amount of sound lumber in logs or standing timber
2
obsolete : escalade
Phrases
to scale
: according to the proportions of an established scale of measurement
floor plans drawn to scale

Examples of scale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The dragon’s scales are enameled, with the lower half of the body decorated using paillonné enamel – tiny pieces of gold leaf (paillons) are suspended between layers of translucent enamel, forming the floral monogram. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024 But because of the impossible scale, users actually experience choice paralysis that places real power in the hands of the platform default. Nathaniel Lubin, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024 Both individuals and populations at scale can shift in the behavioral spectrum over time. Talia Varley, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 Above all, the hundreds of miniature machines for making things—bricks, books, buttons—are a reminder that, at scale, mechanized production gave birth to an entirely new kind of American: the consumer. Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024 The three-year initiative will enable scientists to demonstrate the technology at increasingly larger scales, from burning through hand-size samples to room-size slabs. IEEE Spectrum, 12 Mar. 2024 Some have also called on Disney to invest more in the community, given the scale of this project and how many of the company’s low-wage workers struggle to make ends meet. Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Choosing the right scale of furniture is important. Samantha McIntyre, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024 In 2005, a class of students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, inspired by the show’s first episode, was able to ignite a wooden boat once with a similar technique to Sener’s on a larger scale, but failed on a second attempt. Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
Verb
Ford executives said last October that the pace of adoption of EVs was slower than what the industry had expected. LG Energy Solutions, one of the world’s top EV battery makers, is also scaling back its investments in the U.S. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 14 Mar. 2024 That revelation sparked concern from former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, one of the project’s biggest champions, who called on the agency to scale down the project. Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 In his State of the Union speech Thursday, President Biden unveiled a plan to build a temporary pier on Gaza’s coast to scale up aid shipments. Andrew jeong, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Tech companies have scaled back staffing as their growth has slowed as well — many hired hundreds or thousands of people as internet use and streaming boomed during the pandemic but slowed as life has gradually returned to normal. Thania Garcia, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 In their twilight years, the couple scaled back the tours that had dominated their schedules. Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Jelly Roll will scale things down for a relatively intimate concert at the Fillmore Detroit, performing April 24 on the eve of the NFL draft. Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 Even as the division scales up, Annapurna Interactive is not likely to meet the same fate that Annapurna Pictures did. Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 The agency is already slightly scaling back unrelated fraud-protection efforts this year to avoid other delays. Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scale.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English scole, scale bowl, scale of a balance, from Old Norse skāl; akin to Old Norse skel shell — more at shell

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French escale, eschale, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English scealu shell, husk — more at shell

Noun (3)

Middle English, from Late Latin scala ladder, staircase, from Latin scalae, plural, stairs, rungs, ladder; akin to Latin scandere to climb — more at scan

Verb (3) and Noun (4)

Middle English, from scale entry 5

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Verb (1)

1691, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6b

Verb (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

Noun (4)

circa 1587, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of scale was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near scale

Cite this Entry

“Scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scale. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

scale

1 of 6 noun
1
a
: either pan of a balance
b
: balance entry 1 sense 1
usually used in plural
2
: a device for weighing
a bathroom scale

scale

2 of 6 verb
scaled; scaling
1
: to weigh in scales
2
: to have a specified weight

scale

3 of 6 noun
1
a
: any of the small stiff flat plates that form an outer covering on the body of some animals and especially fishes and reptiles
b
: a small thin plate that resembles an animal scale
scales of mica
the scales on a moth's wing
2
: a small thin flake (as of dandruff) shed from the skin
3
: a thin layer or coating formed especially on metal (as iron)
boiler scale
4
: a special leaf that covers a bud of a seed plant
5
b
: a disease of plants caused by a scale insect
scaleless adjective
scalelike
ˈskā(ə)l-ˌlīk
adjective

scale

4 of 6 verb
scaled; scaling
1
: to remove scale or the scales from
scale a boiler
scale fish
2
: to take off in scales or thin layers
scale the bark off a tree
3
: to come off in scales or shed scales : flake
4
: to throw a flat object so as to sail in air or skip on water

scale

5 of 6 noun
1
: a series of tones going up or down in pitch with each tone having a fixed relationship to those above and below it
2
a
: a series of spaces marked by lines and used to measure distances or to register something (as the height of the mercury in a thermometer)
b
: a divided line on a map or chart indicating the length (as an inch) used to represent a larger unit of measure (as a mile)
c
: an instrument consisting of a strip (as of wood, plastic, or metal) with spaces on its surface that are evenly divided and numbered for measuring distances or amounts
3
: a series divided into classes
4
: the size of a picture, plan, or model of a thing compared to the size of the thing itself
5
: size in comparison
do things on a large scale
6
: a rule by which something can be measured or judged

scale

6 of 6 verb
scaled; scaling
1
: to climb by or as if by a ladder
scale a wall
scale a cliff
2
a
: to arrange in order with the highest assigned one value (as a grade of A) and the lowest another value (as a grade of D) with the rest placed in groups between the two
scale a test
b
: to measure by or as if by a scale
c
: to make, regulate, or estimate by a rule
scale down the budget
scaler noun
Etymology

Noun

Middle English scale "bowl, pan or tray of a balance," of Norse origin

Noun

Middle English scale "a plate on the skin of a fish," from early French escale (same meaning); of Germanic origin

Noun

Middle English scale "ladder," from Latin scala "ladder, staircase," from earlier scalae (plural) "stairs, rungs, ladder"

Medical Definition

scale

1 of 5 noun
1
a
: either pan or tray of a balance
b
: 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

2 of 5 verb
scaled; scaling

transitive verb

: to weigh in scales

intransitive verb

: to have a specified weight on scales

scale

3 of 5 noun
1
: a small thin dry lamina shed (as in many skin diseases) from the skin
2
: a film of tartar encrusting the teeth

scale

4 of 5 verb
scaled; scaling

transitive verb

: to take off in thin layers or scales
scale tartar from the teeth

intransitive verb

1
: to separate or come off in thin layers or laminae
2
: to shed scales or fragmentary surface matter : exfoliate
scaling skin

scale

5 of 5 noun
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

Legal Definition

scale

noun
: a set of graduated wage rates
also : a wage consistent with such rates compare minimum wage

More from Merriam-Webster on scale

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