Scale

French Meaning

English Meaning

1. One of the many small platelike dermal or epidermal structures that characteristically form the external covering of fishes, reptiles, and certain mammals.
2. A similar part, such as one of the minute structures overlapping to form the covering on the wings of butterflies and moths.
3. Pathology A dry thin flake of epidermis shed from the skin.
4. A small thin piece.
5. Botany A small, thin, usually dry, often appressed plant structure, such as any of the protective leaves that cover a tree bud or the bract that subtends a flower in a sedge spikelet.
6. A scale insect.
7. A plant disease or infestation caused by scale insects.
8. A flaky oxide film formed on a metal, as on iron, that has been heated to high temperatures.
9. A flake of rust.
10. A hard mineral coating that forms on the inside surface of boilers, kettles, and other containers in which water is repeatedly heated.
11. To clear or strip of scale or scales: Scale and clean the fish.
12. To remove in layers or scales: scaled off the old paint.
13. To cover with scales; encrust.
14. To throw (a thin flat object) so that it soars through the air or skips along the surface of water.
15. Dentistry To remove (tartar) from tooth surfaces with a pointed instrument.
16. Australian To cheat; swindle.
17. Australian To ride on (a tram or train, for example) without paying the fare.
18. To come off in scales or layers; flake.
19. To become encrusted.
20. A system of ordered marks at fixed intervals used as a reference standard in measurement: a ruler with scales in inches and centimeters.
21. An instrument or device bearing such marks.
22. A standard of measurement or judgment; a criterion.
23. A proportion used in determining the dimensional relationship of a representation to that which it represents: a world map with a scale of 1:4,560,000.
24. A calibrated line, as on a map or an architectural plan, indicating such a proportion.
25. Proper proportion: a house that seemed out of scale with its surroundings.
26. A progressive classification, as of size, amount, importance, or rank: judging divers' performances on a scale of 1 to 10.
27. A relative level or degree: entertained on a lavish scale.
28. A minimum wage fixed by contract: musicians playing a benefit concert for scale.
29. Mathematics A system of notation in which the values of numerical expressions are determined by their places relative to the chosen base of the system: the decimal scale.
30. Music An ascending or descending collection of pitches proceeding by a specified scheme of intervals.
31. To climb up or over; ascend: scaled the peak.
32. To make in accord with a particular proportion or scale: Scale the model to be one tenth of actual size.
33. To alter according to a standard or by degrees; adjust in calculated amounts: scaled down their demands; scaled back the scheduled pay increase.
34. To estimate or measure the quantity of lumber in (logs or uncut trees).
35. To climb; ascend.
36. To rise in steps or stages.
37. An instrument or machine for weighing. Often used in the plural.
38. Either of the pans, trays, or dishes of a balance.
39. To weigh with scales.
40. To have a given weight, as determined by a scale: cargo that scales 14 metric tons.