scale 1  (sk?l)n.1. a. One of the many small hard dermal or epidermal structures that characteristically form the external covering of fishes and reptiles and certain mammals, such as pangolins.b. A similar part in other animals, such as one of the thin flat overlapping structures that cover the wings of butterflies and moths.2. A small, thin, often flattened plant structure, such as one of the modified leaves that cover a tree bud or one of the structures that bear the reproductive organs on the cones of a conifer.3. a. A dry thin flake of epidermis shed from the skin.b. A skin lesion or lesions marked by such flakes.4. a. A scale insect.b. A plant disease or infestation caused by scale insects.5. a. A flaky oxide film formed on a metal, as on iron, that has been heated to high temperatures.b. A flake of rust.6. A hard mineral coating that forms on the inside surface of boilers, kettles, and other containers in which water is repeatedly heated.v. scaled, scal·ing, scales v.tr.1. To clear or strip of scale or scales: Scale and clean the fish.2. To remove in layers or scales: scaled off the old paint.3. To cover with scales; encrust.4. To throw or propel (a thin flat object) through the air or along a surface, such as water or ice.5. Dentistry To remove (tartar) from tooth surfaces with a pointed instrument.6. Australian a. To cheat; swindle.b. To ride on (a tram, for example) without paying the fare.v.intr.1. To come off in scales or layers; flake.2. To become encrusted.[Middle English, from Old French escale, husk, shell, influenced in meaning by Old French escaille, scale of a fish or reptile (both of Germanic origin; see skel- in Indo-European roots).]scale?like adj.scale 2  (sk?l)n.1. a. A system of ordered marks at fixed intervals used as a reference standard in measurement: a ruler whose scale is in inches.b. An instrument or device bearing such marks.c. A standard of measurement or judgment; a criterion.2. a. 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.b. A calibrated line, as on a map or an architectural plan, indicating such a proportion.c. Proper proportion: a house that seemed out of scale with its surroundings.3. A progressive classification, as of size, amount, importance, or rank: judging divers’ performances on a scale of 1 to 10.4. A relative level or degree: entertained on a lavish scale.5. A minimum wage fixed by contract: musicians playing a benefit concert for scale.6. 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.7. Music An ascending or descending collection of pitches proceeding by a specified scheme of intervals.v. scaled, scal·ing, scales v.tr.1. To climb up or over; ascend: scaled the peak.2. To make in accord with a particular proportion or scale: Scale the model to be one tenth of actual size.3. To alter according to a standard or by degrees; adjust in calculated amounts: scaled down their demands; scaled back the scheduled pay increase.4. To estimate or measure the quantity of lumber in (logs or uncut trees).v.intr.1. To climb; ascend.2. To rise in steps or stages.[Middle English, from Latin sc?lae, ladder; see skand- in Indo-European roots.]scal?a·ble adj.scale 3  (sk?l)n.1. An instrument or machine for weighing.2. a. often scales See balance.b. Either of the pans, trays, or dishes of a balance.v. scaled, scal·ing, scales v.tr. To weigh with a scale.v.intr. To have a given weight, as determined by a scale: cargo that scales 11 tons.[Middle English, bowl, balance, from Old Norse sk?l; see skel- in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.scale (ske?l) n1. (Zoology) any of the numerous plates, made of various substances resembling enamel or dentine, covering the bodies of fishes2. (Zoology) a. any of the horny or chitinous plates covering a part or the entire body of certain reptiles and mammalsb. any of the numerous minute structures covering the wings of lepidoptera. squamous3. a thin flat piece or flake4. (Pathology) a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the skin: excessive shedding may be the result of a skin disease5. (Botany) a specialized leaf or bract, esp the protective covering of a bud or the dry membranous bract of a catkin6. (Animals) See scale insect7. (Metallurgy) a flaky black oxide of iron formed on the surface of iron or steel at high temperatures8. (Metallurgy) any oxide formed on a metal during heat treatment9. another word for limescalevb10. (tr) to remove the scales or coating from11. to peel off or cause to peel off in flakes or scales12. (intr) to shed scales13. to cover or become covered with scales, incrustation, etc14. (tr) to throw (a disc or thin flat object) edgewise through the air or along the surface of water15. (Automotive Engineering) (intr) informal Austral to ride on public transport without paying a fare16. (tr) slang South African to steal (something)[C14: from Old French escale, of Germanic origin; compare Old English scealu shell] ?scale?like adjscale (ske?l) n1. (Mechanical Engineering) (often plural) a machine or device for weighing2. (Mechanical Engineering) one of the pans of a balance3. tip the scales a. to exercise a decisive influenceb. (foll by at) to amount in weight (to)vb (tr) 4. to weigh with or as if with scales5. to have a weight of[C13: from Old Norse sk?l bowl, related to Old High German sc?la cup, Old English scealu shell, scale1]scale (ske?l) n1. (Mathematics) a sequence of marks either at regular intervals or else representing equal steps, used as a reference in making measurements2. (General Physics) a measuring instrument having such a scale3. a. the ratio between the size of something real and that of a model or representation of it: the scale of the map was so large that we could find our house on it. b. (as modifier): a scale model. 4. a line, numerical ratio, etc, for showing this ratio5. a progressive or graduated table of things, wages, etc, in order of size, value, etc: a wage scale for carpenters. 6. an established measure or standard7. a relative degree or extent: he entertained on a grand scale. 8. (Music, other) music a group of notes taken in ascending or descending order, esp within the compass of one octave9. (Mathematics) maths the notation of a given number system: the decimal scale. 10. (Education) a graded series of tests measuring mental development, etc11. obsolete a ladder or staircasevb12. to climb to the top of (a height) by or as if by a ladder13. (tr) to make or draw (a model, plan, etc) according to a particular ratio of proportionate reduction14. (tr; usually foll by up or down) to increase or reduce proportionately in size, etc15. (Forestry) US and Canadian (in forestry) to estimate the board footage of (standing timber or logs)[C15: via Italian from Latin sc?la ladder; related to Old French eschiele, Spanish escala]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014scale1 (ske?l) n., v. scaled, scal?ing. n. 1. a. one of the thin flat horny plates forming the covering of certain animals, as snakes, lizards, and pangolins. b. one of the hard bony or dentinal plates, either flat or denticulate, forming the covering of other animals, as fishes. 2. any thin platelike piece, lamina, or flake that peels off from a surface, as the skin. 3. a. Also called bud scale. a specialized rudimentary leaf that protects an immature leaf bud. b. a thin, dry, membranous part of a plant, as the bract of a catkin. 4. scale insect. 5. a coating, as on the inside of a boiler, formed by the precipitation of salts from the water. 6. a. an oxide, esp. an iron oxide, occurring in a scaly form on the surface of metal brought to a high temperature. b. such scale formed on iron or steel during hot-rolling. v.t. 7. to remove the scales from: to scale a fish. 8. to remove in scales or thin layers. 9. to encrust with scale. 10. to skip, as a stone over water. 11. to remove (calculus) from teeth. v.i. 12. to come off in scales. 13. to shed scales. 14. to become coated with scale. [1250?1300; (n.)