WordGarden.ioscale
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /skˈeɪl/
US
- /ˈskeɪl/
Meanings
Noun
a system, range, or relative amount used to measure degree, size, or intensity
a device for weighing something or showing its weight
a sequence of notes arranged in ascending or descending pitch
More meaningsFewer meanings
a small hard plate covering the skin of a fish, reptile, or similar animal
Verb
to climb up something steep or difficult, such as a wall or fence
to make something larger or able to handle more demand, often proportionally
Beyond the definition
Think of "scale" as a word about size, measurement, or levels. It can mean a device for weighing things, a set of notes in music, or the way distances on a map match real distances. You can also use it to talk about how big something is compared to other things ("The problem is on a large scale") or how you change an amount to fit a new need ("scaling the recipe" for more people). It can also be a verb. To scale a mountain means to climb it, and to scale up a business means to grow it a lot. In another common meaning, scales are the small hard pieces that cover a fish or reptile.
The word "scale" is surprisingly versatile. In many everyday uses, it connects to the ideas of measurement, proportion, size, or levels. In other uses, it names a physical covering on an animal or the act of climbing something steep. It is one of those words whose meaning shifts a lot depending on context.
Many people first think of a weighing scale, the device used to tell how heavy something is. But "scale" goes far beyond weight.
As a noun, it can refer to:
- A measuring device: A bathroom scale or kitchen scale tells you weight.
- A series or arrangement: A musical scale is a sequence of notes. You can also speak of a scale of numbers, colors, or values.
- Relative size or extent: "The damage from the hurricane was on an unprecedented scale." Here, the word refers to how great or wide something is.
- Proportion: "The map is drawn to a scale of ," meaning one unit on the map stands for 25,000 of the same units in real life.
- A small plate-like covering: Fish and reptiles have scales covering their bodies.
As a verb, "to scale" means:
- To climb: "The climbers successfully scaled the sheer face of the mountain."
- To adjust to a different size or quantity: "We need to scale up production to meet demand," meaning to increase it. In the same way, you might scale back a project to reduce its size.
Historically, these meanings did not all come from exactly the same source, which helps explain why the word can feel so wide-ranging. In modern English, though, they live together under one familiar form. Whether you're weighing ingredients, reading a map, practicing music, talking about the size of a problem, describing a fish's skin, or climbing a peak, "scale" is a flexible word that appears in many parts of daily life.
Examples
- 1
Weighing
She stepped on the scale to check her weight.
- 2
Map ratio
The map is drawn to a scale of 1:50,000.
- Patterndrawn to a scale of + ratio
made so distances match real distances in a fixed ratio
- 3
Problem size
We didn't understand the scale of the problem at first.
- 4
Activity level
The festival started small, but now it happens on an international scale.
- Patternon a + scale
at that size or level
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Salary system
Nurses move up the pay scale as they gain experience.
- Phrasepay scale
a system that shows salary levels
- 6
Climbing
The climbers managed to scale the wall before dark.
- 7
Increasing production
If demand keeps rising, we'll need to scale up production.
- Phrasescale up
increase in size or amount
- 8
Reducing plans
The city scaled back the parade because of the storm.
- Phrasescale back
reduce
- 9
Complete investigation
The police launched a full-scale investigation after the fire.
- Phrasefull-scale
large and complete
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- detail
- granularity
Do not confuse
- weighing scale
Used with (collocations)
- large scale
- on a small scale
- scale of the problem
- global scale
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- scalenounverb
Forms
- scalespluralnounverb
- scaling-ing formverbnoun
- scaledpast tenseverbnoun