scale1

noun

• 1each of the small, thin horny or bony plates protecting the skin of fish and reptiles, typically overlapping one another.

• 2something resembling a fish scale in appearance or function, in particular.
• a thick dry flake of skin.
• a rudimentary leaf, feather, or bract.
• each of numerous microscopic tilelike structures covering the wings of butterflies and moths.

• 3a flaky deposit, in particular.
• a white deposit formed in a kettle, boiler, etc., by the evaporation of water containing lime.
• tartar formed on teeth.
• a coating of oxide formed on heated metal.

verb

• 1 [with object] remove scale or scales from:he scales the fish and removes the innards
• remove tartar from (teeth) by scraping them.

• 2 [no object] (often as noun scaling) (especially of the skin) form scales:moisturizers can ease off drying and scaling
• come off in scales or thin pieces; flake off:the paint was scaling from the brick walls