scale3

noun

• 1a graduated range of values forming a standard system for measuring or grading something:a new salary scale is planned for all universities
• the full range of different levels of people or things, from lowest to highest:two men at opposite ends of the social scale at the other end of the scale, premiership clubs are forced to pay huge wages
• a series of marks at regular intervals in a line used in measuring something:the mean delivery time is plotted against a scale on the right
• a device having a series of marks at regular intervals for measuring:she read the exact distance off a scale
• a rule determining the distances between marks on a scale:the vertical axis is given on a logarithmic scale

• 2 [in singular] the relative size or extent of something:no one foresaw the scale of the disaster everything in the house is on a grand scale
• [often as modifier] a ratio of size in a map, model, drawing, or plan:a one-fifth scale model of a seven-storey building an Ordnance map on a scale of 1:2500

• 3 Music an arrangement of the notes in any system of music in ascending or descending order of pitch:the scale of C major

• 4 (in full scale of notation) Mathematics a system of numerical notation in which the value of a digit depends upon its position in the number, successive positions representing successive powers of a fixed base:the conversion of the number to the binary scale

• 5 Photography the range of exposures over which a photographic material will give an acceptable variation in density.

verb

• 1climb up or over (something high and steep):thieves scaled a high fence

• 2represent in proportional dimensions; reduce or increase in size according to a common scale: (as adjective scaled)scaled plans of the house
• [no object] (of a quantity or property) be variable according to a particular scale.

• 3North American estimate the amount of timber that will be produced from (a log or uncut tree): the operators were accustomed to having their logs scaled for inventory control