scale (n.)

1.the act of checking or adjusting (by comparison with a standard) the accuracy of a measuring instrument"the thermometer needed calibration"

2.a flattened rigid plate forming part of the body covering of many animals

3.a metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)

4.an indicator having a graduated sequence of marks

5.a measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass

6.a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin

7.a specialized leaf or bract that protects a bud or catkin

8.relative magnitude"they entertained on a grand scale"

9.the ratio between the size of something and a representation of it"the scale of the map" "the scale of the model"

10.an ordered reference standard"judging on a scale of 1 to 10"

11.(ellipsis)(music) a series of notes differing in pitch according to a specific scheme (usually within an octave)

scale (v.)

1.come off in flakes or thin small pieces"The paint in my house is peeling off"

2.size or measure according to a scale"This model must be scaled down"

3.measure with or as if with scales"scale the gold"

4.remove the scales from"scale fish"

5.pattern, make, regulate, set, measure, or estimate according to some rate or standard

6.climb up by means of a ladder

7.reach the highest point of"We scaled the Mont Blanc"

8.take by attacking with scaling ladders"The troops scaled the walls of the fort"

9.measure by or as if by a scale"This bike scales only 25 pounds"