scaledown

[ skeyl-doun ]

noun

a reduction in size, quantity, or activity according to a fixed scale or proportion: a scaledown of military expenditures.

Origin of scaledown

First recorded in 1930–35; noun use of verb phrase scale down

Also called scale·back [skeyl-bak]. /ˈskeɪlˌbæk/.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use scaledown in a sentence

So with the doors of late night closed to her, Slate had to scale down her ambitions to raise her profile.
The Curious Little Shell That Restarted Jenny Slate’s Career | Luke Hopping | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
This allows for higher volumes and lets recyclers scale down their costs.
Will the Recession Kill Recycling? | Ken Lee | July 11, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
There is no such thing as an exterior will outside the man's brain, to push one scale down with a finger.
God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford
If we begin this legislation by taking in all trades, we have got to scale down our schedule of compensation.
Proceedings, Third National Conference Workmen's Compensation for Industrial Accidents | Various
It was necessary to scale down the scanner's field to see the huge shape in its entirety.
The Women-Stealers of Thrayx | Fox B. Holden

It could not in law or equity "scale down" its deposits to make good any losses—a feature peculiar to the mutual institution.
Readings in Money and Banking | Chester Arthur Phillips
But the eating and drinking must scale down to what I think is right.
Ashton-Kirk, Criminologist | John T. McIntyre

Other Idioms and Phrases with scaledown

scaledown

Reduce the size or cost of, as in The owners decided to scale down wages. This expression, along with the related scale up, which refers to an increase, alludes to scale in the sense of “a fixed standard.” [Late 1800s]

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