scalable
Americanadjective
adjective
-
capable of being scaled or climbed
-
computing (of a network) able to be expanded to cope with increased use
Usage
What does scalable mean? Scalable means able to be expanded or made bigger. It’s especially applied to small businesses and computer networks.This sense of the word is based on the noun scale, referring to the size or extent of something. The related phrase scale up means to expand something or make it bigger. A company considered scalable is one that can be scaled up—it can use the same business model with a much larger operation. The term is especially used in the context of startups that could potentially become very large companies. A computer network or other virtual entity that’s scalable is one that can be expanded while allowing for increased use or additional computing capacity.Unrelatedly, scalable means able to be climbed. This sense of the word is based on the verb scale, meaning to climb.Example: It’s an interesting business model, but it’s not scalable—to expand, you’d need an unsustainable amount of raw materials and infrastructure.
Other Word Forms
- scalableness noun
- scalably adverb
- unscalable adjective
Etymology
Origin of scalable
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Competitive excel has been around for about 20 years and is essentially a puzzle solving competition, thinking logically about how you can create a general solution to a question which is scalable and fast.
From BBC
With its simple, scalable synthesis, strong light absorption, stable photophysical characteristics, and long lived excited state, the manganese-based material could support future large scale photochemical applications.
From Science Daily
And with energy consumption on the rise around the world, Stone says, we’d be crazy not to take advantage of zero-emission nuclear’s readily scalable plant models.
From Los Angeles Times
The 17,500-seat arena, which Madison Square Garden Co. officials announced in 2018, has a scalable capacity of nearly 20,000 guests and is designed “with sound quality as a priority.”
From Los Angeles Times
The massive spherical venue will have 17,500 seats with a scalable capacity of nearly 20,000 guests.
From Seattle Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
