scale
Weighing device indicator
Scale has a jumble of uses, owing to its arrival in English from different sources.
Meanings fall broadly into three categories: those having to do with the bony plates on fish and some other animals; those connected with the weight-measuring device called a scale or scales; and those referring to a graduated series in which there is usually an understood top and bottom, or upper and lower part.
This last group of senses is the most productive as noun and verb.
The scale of a drawing or model is its size in relation to the real thing.
If you scale something up or down, you make it larger or smaller by adjusting the scale on which it operates.
Steadiness or amount owed
- weightMeasure of heaviness
- massQuantity of matter
- measurementDetermining size or amount
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
calibration · kilogram · gram · ounce · pound · ton · tare · counterweight
One who governs
- graduatedCompleted formal studies
- divisionsSeparate portions of something
- incrementsUnits of increase
- metricStandard of measurement
imperial · calibration · millimeter · centimeter · inch · foot · gauge · vernier
Physical extent or dimensions
- scopeExtent or range
- extentRange or magnitude
- rangeExtent of variation
- proportionComparative relation of parts
magnitude · dimension · grand · massive · economy · industrial · global · local
Eight-note interval
- intervalDuration between two points
- majorOf chief importance
- minorScale with lowered third
- chromaticRelating to color
pentatonic · diatonic · mode · ascending · descending · practice · arpeggio · key
State of balance
- justiceFair treatment under law
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- counterweightBalancing mass in machinery
- fulcrumLever's balance point
beam · pans · Libra · blindfolded · equipoise · poise · proportion · symmetry
Ascend using effort
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- ascendMove upward
- mountainTall natural landmass
- wallVertical enclosing structure
rock · cliff · rope · harness · mountaineering · bouldering · Everest · peak
Losing outer covering
- moltingPeriodic shedding of covering
- scutesHorny epidermal plates
- keratinStructural hair protein
- armorProtective combat covering
overlapping · snake · lizard · gecko · chameleon · crocodile · alligator · texture
Continuous range of values
- gradientRate of change across space
- continuumUninterrupted, gradual sequence
- rangeExtent of variation
- degreesUnits of measurement
sliding · rating · ranking · severity · intensity · progression · levels · incremental
Creating geographic representations
- ratioComparative numerical relation
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- topographyPhysical feature mapping
- contourBounding line of shape
elevation · projection · zoom · detail · resolution · GIS · atlas · terrain
balance
Steadiness or amount owed
- weightMeasure of heaviness
- massQuantity of matter
- measurementDetermining size or amount
precision · calibration · kilogram · gram · ounce · pound · ton · tare · counterweight · load
ruler
One who governs
- graduatedCompleted formal studies
- divisionsSeparate portions of something
- incrementsUnits of increase
metric · imperial · calibration · millimeter · centimeter · inch · foot · gauge · vernier · caliper
size
Physical extent or dimensions
proportion · magnitude · dimension · grand · massive · economy · industrial · global · local · ambitious
octave
Eight-note interval
chromatic · pentatonic · diatonic · mode · ascending · descending · practice · arpeggio · key · tonic
equilibrium
State of balance
- justiceFair treatment under law
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- counterweightBalancing mass in machinery
fulcrum · beam · pans · Libra · blindfolded · equipoise · poise · proportion · symmetry · weighing
climb
Ascend using effort
wall · rock · cliff · rope · harness · mountaineering · bouldering · Everest · peak · vertical
shedding
Losing outer covering
armor · overlapping · snake · lizard · gecko · chameleon · crocodile · alligator · texture · camouflage
spectrum
Continuous range of values
degrees · sliding · rating · ranking · severity · intensity · progression · levels · incremental · grading
cartography
Creating geographic representations
- ratioComparative numerical relation
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- topographyPhysical feature mapping
contour · elevation · projection · zoom · detail · resolution · GIS · atlas · terrain · grid
deposit
Place for safekeeping
- calciumElement twenty, builds bones
- plaqueInscribed memorial tablet
- encrustationHardened surface deposit
mineral · kettle · pipe · dental · calculus · buildup · accumulation · coating · residue · furring
shimmer
Tremulous, wavering light
- iridescenceColor shift from interference
- mucusProtective bodily secretion
- cycloidCurve from rolling wheel
scraping · silvery · overlapping · carp · salmon · bass · trout · slime · gills · fins
- chemistry labbeaker, flask, test tube, pipette, burner
- geography termsmap, atlas, globe, compass, coordinates
- Mappingmap, digital maps, compass rose, GPS, latitude
- measurementgauging, balance, metering, gram, measuring cup
- Ancient Marketstalls, vendors, merchants, traders, goods
- atlas contentstopographic maps, political maps, road maps, climate maps, relief maps
scaleminiature
Reduced-scale representation
tiny · small-scale · diminutive · microscopic · microscale
- tip the scalesBecome the deciding factor
- fish scalesOverlapping skin plates
- bathroom scaleDevice measuring body weight
- grading scalesStandards for evaluating work
- scaled backReduced in size
- scale backReduce in extent
scales, escalate, escalator, upscale, scaling, scaled, downscale, scalable, nanoscale