- scale
- scale1 W2S3 [skeıl] n▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(size/level)¦2¦(range)¦3¦(for weighing)¦4¦(measuring system)¦5¦(measuring marks)¦6¦(map/model)¦7¦(music)¦8¦(fish)¦9¦(teeth)¦10¦(water pipes)¦11 the scales fell from somebody's eyes▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1.) ¦(SIZE/LEVEL)¦ [singular, U]the size or level of something, or the amount that something is happeningscale of▪ We had underestimated the scale of the problem.on a large/small/grand etc scale▪ There has been housing development on a massive scale since 1980.▪ Most alternative technologies work best on a small scale.▪ A structural survey revealed the full scale of the damage.▪ I was shocked by the sheer scale (=very big scale) of the destruction.on a global/international/world scale▪ Pollution could cause changes to weather patterns on a global scale.▪ Large firms benefit from economies of scale (=ways of saving money because they are big) .2.) ¦(RANGE)¦ [C usually singular]a whole range of different types of people or things, from the lowest level to the highest▪ Some rural schools have 50 pupils, while at the other end of the scale are city schools with nearly 5,000 pupils.up/down the scale▪ She gradually made her way up the social scale .▪ animals which are lower down the evolutionary scale (=the range of animals that have developed gradually over a long time)3.) ¦(FOR WEIGHING)¦scales [plural] BrE scale AmEa machine for weighing people or objects▪ a set of kitchen scales▪ some new bathroom scales (=scales that you use to weigh yourself)4.) ¦(MEASURING SYSTEM)¦a system of numbers that is used for measuring the amount, speed, quality etc of somethingon a scale▪ The earthquakes measured 7 on the Richter scale.▪ changes to the company's pay scale▪ Your performance will be judged on a scale of 1 to 10.▪ We use a sliding scale (=in which prices are not firmly fixed) for charges.5.) ¦(MEASURING MARKS)¦a set of marks with regular spaces between them on a tool that is used for measuring, or on the side of a mathematical drawing▪ a ruler with a metric scale6.) ¦(MAP/MODEL)¦ [U and C]the relationship between the size of a map, drawing, or model and the actual size of the place or thing that it represents▪ a map with a scale of 1:250,000to scale▪ All our models are made to scale.scale model/drawing etc(=one done using a strict scale)▪ a scale drawing of the Eiffel Tower7.) ¦(MUSIC)¦a series of musical notes that become higher or lower, with fixed distances between each note▪ the scale of G major8.) ¦(FISH)¦ [C usually plural]one of the small flat pieces of skin that cover the bodies of fish, snakes etc9.) ¦(TEETH)¦[U]BrE a white substance that forms on your teeth10.)¦(WATER PIPES)¦[U]a white substance that forms around the inside of hot water pipes or containers in which water is boiled11.) the scales fell from sb's eyesliterary used to say that someone suddenly realized something importantscale 2scale2 v [T]1.) to climb to the top of something that is high and difficult to climb▪ Rescuers had to scale a 300m cliff to reach the injured climber.2.) technical to make writing or a picture the right size for a particular purposescale sth to sth▪ The writing can be scaled to any size, depending on the paper.3.) scale the heightsto be extremely successful▪ By the age of 21 he had already scaled the heights in the academic world.scale down/back [scale sth<=>down/back] phr vto reduce the amount or size of something▪ The emergency aid programme has now been scaled down.scale up [scale sth<=>up] phr vto increase the amount or size of something→↑decrease▪ Production at the factory is being scaled up.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.
