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scaling

[ skey-ling ]

/ ˈskeɪ lɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR scaling ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Dentistry.

the removal of calculus and other deposits on the teeth by means of instruments.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

"Little Women" may be a classic, but that doesn't mean we all know the meanings of the vocab words from the book. Can you define these words correctly and make Jo proud?

Question 1 of 10

earnest

full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.

a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.

urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.

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Origin of scaling

scale¹ + -ing¹

OTHER WORDS FROM scaling

non·scal·ing, adjectiveun·scal·ing, adjective

Words nearby scaling

scaler, scales, scaleup, scalia, scaliger, scaling, scaling ladder, scall, scallawag, scallion, scallop

Definition for scaling (2 of 4)

scale¹

[ skeyl ]

/ skeɪl /

noun

Zoology.

one of the thin, flat, horny plates forming the covering of certain animals, as snakes, lizards, and pangolins.
one of the hard, bony or dentinal plates, either flat or denticulate, forming the covering of certain other animals, as fishes.

any thin, platelike piece, lamina, or flake that peels off from a surface, as from the skin.

Botany.

Also called bud scale. a rudimentary body, usually a specialized leaf and often covered with hair, wax, or resin, enclosing an immature leaf bud.
a thin, scarious or membranous part of a plant, as a bract of a catkin.

scale insect.

a coating or incrustation, as on the inside of a boiler, formed by the precipitation of salts from the water.

Often scales. Metallurgy.

an oxide, especially an iron oxide, occurring in a scaly form on the surface of metal brought to a high temperature.
Also called mill scale. such scale formed on iron or steel during hot-rolling.

scales,

a cause of blindness or ignorance, as regarding the true nature of a person, situation, etc.: You're infatuated with her now, but the scales will soon fall from your eyes.
Bible. an unspecified affliction that caused Paul to become temporarily blind. Acts 9:18.

verb (used with object), scaled, scal·ing.

to remove the scales or scale from: to scale a fish.

to remove in scales or thin layers.

to cover with an incrustation or scale.

to skip, as a stone over water.

Dentistry. to remove (calculus) from the teeth with instruments.

verb (used without object), scaled, scal·ing.

to come off in scales.

to shed scales.

to become coated with scale, as the inside of a boiler.

Origin of scale

1250–1300; (noun) Middle English < Middle French escale < West Germanic *skāla; akin to scale²; (v.) late Middle English scalen to remove scales from, derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM scale

scale·less, adjectivescale·like, adjective

Definition for scaling (3 of 4)

scale²

[ skeyl ]

/ skeɪl /

noun

Often scales. a balance or any of various other instruments or devices for weighing: We gave the parents a baby scale. The butcher placed the meat on the scales.

Also called scalepan. either of the pans or dishes of a balance.

Scales, Astronomy, Astrology. the constellation or sign of Libra; Balance.

verb (used with object), scaled, scal·ing.

to weigh in or as if in scales.

to have a weight of.

Origin of scale

1175–1225; Middle English < Old Norse skālar (plural), cognate with Old English scealu scale (of a balance)

Definition for scaling (4 of 4)

scale³

[ skeyl ]

/ skeɪl /

noun

a succession or progression of steps or degrees; graduated series: the scale of taxation; the social scale.

a series of marks laid down at determinate distances, as along a line, for purposes of measurement or computation: the scale of a thermometer.

a graduated line, as on a map, representing proportionate size.

a table of graduated rates, as of prices or wages: These unions use different scales.

a wage that conforms to such rates: How much is scale?

Also called union scale. a wage fixed by contract that is the minimum permitted to be paid to or accepted by a particular category of employed persons: All actors and musicians for the performance, including the stars, are working for scale.

an instrument with graduated spaces, as for measuring.

the proportion that a representation of an object bears to the object itself: a model on a scale of one inch to one foot.

the ratio of distances or sometimes of areas on a map to the corresponding values on the earth.

a certain relative or proportionate size or extent: They built a residence on a yet more magnificent scale.

a standard of measurement or estimation; point of reference by which to gauge or rate: We have no scale by which to judge his achievements.

Music. a succession of tones ascending or descending according to fixed intervals, especially such a series beginning on a particular note: the major scale of C.

Education, Psychology. a graded series of tests or tasks for measuring intelligence, achievement, adjustment, etc.

Arithmetic. a system of numerical notation: the decimal scale.

anything by which one may ascend.

Obsolete.

a ladder.
a flight of stairs.

verb (used with object), scaled, scal·ing.

to climb by or as if by a ladder; climb up or over.

to make according to scale.

to adjust in amount according to a fixed scale or proportion (often followed by down or up): to scale down wages.

to measure by or as if by a scale.

Lumbering.

to measure (logs).
to estimate the amount of (standing timber).

Australian Informal. to ride on (public transportation) without paying the fare.

verb (used without object), scaled, scal·ing.

to climb; ascend; mount.

to progress in a graduated series.

Origin of scale

1350–1400; (noun) Middle English < Latin scālae ladder, stairs; (v.) Middle English < Old French escaler or Medieval Latin scālāre, both ≪ Latin scāla, scālae

SYNONYMS FOR scale

17 See climb.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR scale ON THESAURUS.COM

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for scaling

They ended up crawling for much of the journey, scaling electric fences and fending off wild animals in freezing conditions.
How ‘Titanic ’Helped This Brave Young Woman Escape North Korea’s Totalitarian State|Lizzie Crocker|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That means that financial innovation is now as important to scaling up renewable energy as engineering innovation.
Capitalism Is Saving the Climate, You Hippies|Daniel Gross|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Or they might realize that they should be scaling back on the caffeine use and stop going.
Buying a Gift Card Is Really Making a Free Loan to Big Business|Daniel Gross|December 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Jenny Craig will be scaling back on their celebrity endorsers.
'Duck Dynasty' Breaks Records, WWE Wrestler Darren Young Comes Out|Culture Team|August 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST

“The brand is scaling,” said Gabby Cohen, the public-relations and marketing director at SoulCycle.
SoulCycle Is a Booming Exercise Chain for the 1 Percent|Filipa Ioannou|July 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Three times they mounted to the assault, here through the breach, yonder by means of their scaling ladders.
The Executioner's Knife|Eugne Sue
He was carried prisoner to Plymouth, whence he had cleverly escaped one night by scaling a wall and putting off in a little boat.
Humphrey Bold|Herbert Strang
We have neither cannon to blow down the walls, nor means of scaling them.
No Surrender!|G. A. Henty
The following figure represents a type of numerous instances of scaling off.
Hours of Exercise in the Alps|John Tyndall
An hour later, as we were scaling the divide, one of the point-men sighted a posse in our rear, coming after us like fiends.
The Outlet|Andy Adams

British Dictionary definitions for scaling (1 of 3)

scale¹

/ (skeɪl) /

noun

any of the numerous plates, made of various substances resembling enamel or dentine, covering the bodies of fishes

any of the horny or chitinous plates covering a part or the entire body of certain reptiles and mammals
any of the numerous minute structures covering the wings of lepidopteraRelated adjective: squamous

a thin flat piece or flake

a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the skin: excessive shedding may be the result of a skin disease

a specialized leaf or bract, esp the protective covering of a bud or the dry membranous bract of a catkin

See scale insect

a flaky black oxide of iron formed on the surface of iron or steel at high temperatures

any oxide formed on a metal during heat treatment

another word for limescale

verb

(tr) to remove the scales or coating from

to peel off or cause to peel off in flakes or scales

(intr) to shed scales

to cover or become covered with scales, incrustation, etc

(tr) to throw (a disc or thin flat object) edgewise through the air or along the surface of water

(intr) Australian informal to ride on public transport without paying a fare

(tr) Southern African slang to steal (something)

Derived forms of scale

scalelike, adjective

Word Origin for scale

C14: from Old French escale, of Germanic origin; compare Old English scealu shell

British Dictionary definitions for scaling (2 of 3)

scale²

/ (skeɪl) /

noun

(often plural) a machine or device for weighing

one of the pans of a balance

tip the scales

to exercise a decisive influence
(foll by at) to amount in weight (to)

verb (tr)

to weigh with or as if with scales

to have a weight of

Word Origin for scale

C13: from Old Norse skāl bowl, related to Old High German scāla cup, Old English scealu shell, scale 1

British Dictionary definitions for scaling (3 of 3)

scale³

/ (skeɪl) /

noun

a sequence of marks either at regular intervals or else representing equal steps, used as a reference in making measurements

a measuring instrument having such a scale

the ratio between the size of something real and that of a model or representation of itthe scale of the map was so large that we could find our house on it
(as modifier)a scale model

a line, numerical ratio, etc, for showing this ratio

a progressive or graduated table of things, wages, etc, in order of size, value, etca wage scale for carpenters

an established measure or standard

a relative degree or extenthe entertained on a grand scale

music a group of notes taken in ascending or descending order, esp within the compass of one octave

maths the notation of a given number systemthe decimal scale

a graded series of tests measuring mental development, etc

obsolete a ladder or staircase

verb

to climb to the top of (a height) by or as if by a ladder

(tr) to make or draw (a model, plan, etc) according to a particular ratio of proportionate reduction

(tr; usually foll by up or down) to increase or reduce proportionately in size, etc

US and Canadian (in forestry) to estimate the board footage of (standing timber or logs)

Word Origin for scale

C15: via Italian from Latin scāla ladder; related to Old French eschiele, Spanish escala

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for scaling (1 of 2)

scale¹

[ skāl ]

One of the small thin plates forming the outer covering of fish, reptiles, and certain other animals.

A similar part, such as one of the minute structures overlapping to form the covering on the wings of butterflies and moths.

A small, thin, usually dry plant part, such as one of the protective leaves that cover a tree bud or one of the structures that contain the reproductive organs on the cones of a conifer.

A plant disease caused by scale insects.

Scientific definitions for scaling (2 of 2)

scale²

[ skāl ]

An ordered system of numbering or indexing that is used as a reference standard in measurement, in which each number corresponds to some physical quantity. Some scales, such as temperature scales, have equal intervals; other scales, such as the Richter scale, are arranged as a geometric progression.

An instrument or a machine for weighing.

Cultural definitions for scaling (1 of 2)

scale

In music, the sequence of tones that a piece of music principally uses. A composition in the key of C-major uses the C-major scale, made up of the white keys on a piano.

Cultural definitions for scaling (2 of 2)

scale

A system of marks set at fixed intervals, used as a standard for measurement.

notes for scale

On a map, plan, or chart, a scale indicates the proportion between the representation and what it represents, such as the legend “One inch equals twenty miles” on a map.

notes for scale

Temperature scales divide up the range of temperatures into equal degrees.

Idioms and Phrases with scaling

scale

In addition to the idiom beginning with scale

scale down

also see:

tip the balance (scale)
turn the tables (scales)

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scaling

noun Dentistry.

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CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

Origin of scaling

OTHER WORDS FROM scaling

Words nearby scaling

Definition for scaling (2 of 4)

noun

verb (used with object), scaled, scal·ing.

verb (used without object), scaled, scal·ing.

Origin of scale

OTHER WORDS FROM scale

Definition for scaling (3 of 4)

noun

verb (used with object), scaled, scal·ing.

Origin of scale

Definition for scaling (4 of 4)

noun

verb (used with object), scaled, scal·ing.

verb (used without object), scaled, scal·ing.

Origin of scale

SYNONYMS FOR scale

Words related to scaling

Example sentences from the Web for scaling

British Dictionary definitions for scaling (1 of 3)

noun

verb

Derived forms of scale

Word Origin for scale

British Dictionary definitions for scaling (2 of 3)

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for scale

British Dictionary definitions for scaling (3 of 3)

noun

verb

Word Origin for scale

Scientific definitions for scaling (1 of 2)

Scientific definitions for scaling (2 of 2)

Cultural definitions for scaling (1 of 2)

Cultural definitions for scaling (2 of 2)

notes for scale

notes for scale

Idioms and Phrases with scaling