Scoville scale

American  

[skoh-vil skeyl] / ˈskoʊ vɪl ˌskeɪl /

noun

1. a scale of spicy taste for a chile pepper when assigned a numerical measure in Scoville units or Scoville heat units, originally derived from a subjective method of measurement, the Scoville test, but now determined by a chemical measure of capsaicin levels.

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Etymology

Origin of Scoville scale

First recorded in 1980–85; named after Wilbur L. Scoville (1865–1942), American pharmacist who created the “Scoville Organoleptic Test,” now standardized as the Scoville scale

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Scoville scale

As the capsaicin content of a pepper increases, so does its ranking on the Scoville scale, which quantifies the sensation of being hot.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2023

That segues into the claustrophobic night terrors of Shadows Follow; while Screaming Suicide is a more straightforward metal workout that still registers at the top of the Scoville scale.

From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2023

So why, oh why, on God’s green Earth are we still measuring chile pepper heat on the Scoville scale?

From Washington Post ● Aug. 31, 2022

They score 4 out of 10 on the Scoville scale, which means they’re a little milder than jalapeños — although nature can be capricious, and every once in a while you get a hot one.

From New York Times ● Nov. 3, 2021

So there's a scale, the Scoville scale, that we chili-fanciers use to talk about how spicy a pepper is.

From Little Brother by Cory Doctorow