Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Scale
Scale
(skāl)
, Noun.
1.
The dish of a balance; hence, the balance itself; an instrument or machine for weighing;
as, to turn the
; – chiefly used in the plural when applied to the whole instrument or apparatus for weighing. Also used figuratively. scale
Long time in even
The battle hung.
scale
The battle hung.
Milton.
The
Now than my vows.
scales
are turned; her kindness weighs no moreNow than my vows.
Waller.
Scale
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Scaled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Scaling
.] To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system.
Scaling
his present bearing with his past. Shakespeare
To scale a debt, wages, etc.
or To scale down a debt, wages, etc.
to reduce a debt, etc., according to a fixed ratio or scale.
[U.S.]
Scale
,Noun.
[Cf. AS.
scealu
, scalu
, a shell, parings; akin to D. schaal
, G. schale
, OHG. scala
, Dan. & Sw. skal
a shell, Dan. skiael
a fish scale, Goth. skalja
tile, and E. shale
, shell
, and perhaps also to scale
of a balance; but perhaps rather fr. OF. escale
, escaile
, F. écaille
scale of a fish, and écale
shell of beans, pease, eggs, nuts, of German origin, and akin to Goth. skalja
, G. schale
. See Shale
.] 1.
(Anat.)
One of the small, thin, membranous, bony or horny pieces which form the covering of many fishes and reptiles, and some mammals, belonging to the dermal part of the skeleton, or dermoskeleton. See
Cycloid
, Ctenoid
, and Ganoid
. Fish that, with their fins and shining
Glide under the green wave.
scales
,Glide under the green wave.
Milton.
2.
Hence, any layer or leaf of metal or other material, resembling in size and thinness the scale of a fish;
as, a
scale
of iron, of bone, etc.3.
(Zool.)
One of the small scalelike structures covering parts of some invertebrates, as those on the wings of Lepidoptera and on the body of Thysanura; the elytra of certain annelids. See
Lepidoptera
. 4.
(Zool.)
A scale insect. (See below.)
5.
(Bot.)
A small appendage like a rudimentary leaf, resembling the scales of a fish in form, and often in arrangement;
as, the
. The name is also given to the chaff on the stems of ferns. scale
of a bud, of a pine cone, and the like6.
The thin metallic side plate of the handle of a pocketknife. See Illust. of
Pocketknife
. 7.
An incrustation deposit on the inside of a vessel in which water is heated, as a steam boiler.
8.
(Metal.)
The thin oxide which forms on the surface of iron forgings. It consists essentially of the magnetic oxide,
Fe3O4
. Also, a similar coating upon other metals. Covering scale
(Zool.)
, a hydrophyllium.
– Ganoid scale
. (Zool.)
See under
– Ganoid
. Scale armor
(Mil.)
, armor made of small metallic scales overlapping, and fastened upon leather or cloth.
– Scale beetle
(Zool.)
, the tiger beetle.
– Scale carp
(Zool.)
, a carp having normal scales.
– Scale insect
(Zool.)
, any one of numerous species of small hemipterous insects belonging to the family
– Coccidae
, in which the females, when adult, become more or less scalelike in form. They are found upon the leaves and twigs of various trees and shrubs, and often do great damage to fruit trees. See Orange scale
,under Orange
. Scale moss
(Bot.)
, any leafy-stemmed moss of the order
Hepaticae
; – so called from the small imbricated scalelike leaves of most of the species. See Hepatica
, 2, and Jungermannia
.Scale
,Verb.
T.
1.
To strip or clear of scale or scales;
as, to
. scale
a fish; to scale
the inside of a boiler2.
To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface.
“If all the mountains were scaled, and the earth made even.” T. Burnet.
3.
To scatter; to spread.
[Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
4.
(Gun.)
To clean, as the inside of a cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder.
Totten.
Scale
,Verb.
I.
1.
To separate and come off in thin layers or laminae;
as, some sandstone
. scales
by exposureThose that cast their shell are the lobster and crab; the old skins are found, but the old shells never; so it is likely that they
scale
off. Bacon.
2.
To separate; to scatter.
[Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
Scale
,Noun.
1.
A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending.
[Obs.]
2.
Hence, anything graduated, especially when employed as a measure or rule, or marked by lines at regular intervals.
Specifically: (a)
A mathematical instrument, consisting of a slip of wood, ivory, or metal, with one or more sets of spaces graduated and numbered on its surface, for measuring or laying off distances, etc., as in drawing, plotting, and the like. See
Gunter’s scale
. (b)
A series of spaces marked by lines, and representing proportionately larger distances;
as, a
. scale
of miles, yards, feet, etc., for a map or plan(c)
A basis for a numeral system;
as, the decimal
scale
; the binary scale
, etc. (d)
(Mus.)
3.
Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order;
as, a
. scale
of beingThere is a certain
scale
of duties . . . which for want of studying in right order, all the world is in confusion. Milton.
4.
Relative dimensions, without difference in proportion of parts; size or degree of the parts or components in any complex thing, compared with other like things; especially, the relative proportion of the linear dimensions of the parts of a drawing, map, model, etc., to the dimensions of the corresponding parts of the object that is represented;
as, a map on a
. scale
of an inch to a mileScale of chords
, a graduated scale on which are given the lengths of the chords of arcs from 0° to 90° in a circle of given radius, – used in measuring given angles and in plotting angles of given numbers of degrees.
Scale
,Verb.
T.
To climb by a ladder, or as if by a ladder; to ascend by steps or by climbing; to clamber up;
as, to
. scale
the wall of a fortOft have I
scaled
the craggy oak. Spenser.
Scale
,Verb.
I.
To lead up by steps; to ascend.
[Obs.]
Satan from hence, now on the lower stair,
That
Looks down with wonder.
That
scaled
by steps of gold to heaven-gate,Looks down with wonder.
Milton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Scale
SCALE
,Noun.
1.
The dish of a balance; and hence, the balance itself, or whole instrument; as, to turn the scale.Long time in even scale the battle hung.
But in general, we use the plural, scales, for the whole instrument.
The scales are turn'd; her kindness weights no more now than my vows.
2.
The sign of the balance or Libra, in the zodiac.3.
The small shell or crust which composes a part of the covering of a fish; and hence, any thin layer or leaf exfoliated or separated; a thin lamin; as scales of iron or of bone.The scales of fish consist of alternate layers of membrane and phosphate of lime. The scales of serpents are composed of a horny membrane, without the calcarious phosphate.
4.
A ladder; series of steps; means of ascending. [L. scala.]5.
The art of storming a place by mounting the wall on ladders; an escalade, or scalade.6.
A mathematical instrument of wood or metal, on which are marked line and figures for the purpose of measuring distances, extent or proportions; as a plain scale; a diagonal scale.7.
Regular gradation; a series rising by steps or degrees like those of a ladder. Thus we speak of the scale of being, in which man occupies a higher rank than brutes, and angels a higher rank than man.8.
Any instrument, figure or scheme, graduated for the purpose of measuring extent or proportions as a map drawn by a scale of half an inch to a league.9.
In music, a gamut; a diagram; or a series of lines and spaces rising one above another, on which notes are placed; or a scale consists of the regular gradations of sounds. A scale may be limited to an octave, called by the Greeks a tetrachord, or it may extend to the compass of any voice or instrument.10.
Any thing graduated or marked with degrees at equal distances.SCALE
, v.t.1.
To climb, as by a ladder; to ascend by steps; and applied to the walls of a fortified place, to mount in assault or storm.Oft have I scal'd the craggy oak.
2.
[from scale, a balance.] To measure; to compare; to weight.3.
[from scale, the covering of a fish.] to strip or clear of scales; as, to scale a fish.4.
To take off in thin lamins or scales.5.
To pare off a surface.If all the mountains were scaled, and the earth made even -
6.
In the north of England, to spread, as manure or loose substances; also, to disperse; to waste.7.
In gunnery, to clean the inside of a cannon by the explosion of a small quantity of powder.SCALE
,Verb.
I.
The old shells of the lobster scale off.