1 [count] : a series of musical notes that go up or down in pitch
▪ the C-minor scale ▪ a major scale 2 [count] : a line on a map or chart that shows a specific unit of measure (such as an inch) used to represent a larger unit (such as a mile) : the relationship between the distances on a map and the actual distances
▪ The map uses a scale of one centimeter for every 10 kilometers. 3 [count] : a range of numbers that is used to show the size, strength, or quality of something — usually singular ▪ On a scale of 1 to 10, I give the movie a 9. [=the movie was extremely good] ▪ On a scale of 1 to 5—1 being mild pain and 5 being extreme pain—tell me how much pain you are in. — see also richter scale 4 [count] : a range of levels of something from lowest to highest
▪ He is at the top of the pay scale for his position. ▪ Primates are high up on the evolutionary scale. — see also sliding scale 5 [noncount] — used to describe a model, drawing, etc., in which all of the parts of something relate to each other in the same way that they do in the larger form ▪ The model of the new city hall is to scale. [=the model shows exactly how the parts will relate to each other when it is built] ▪ The diagram was not drawn to scale. ▪ a scale model of a car 6 [singular] : the size or level of something especially in comparison to something else
▪ The company does things on a larger scale than most others. ▪ The mayor surveyed the full scale [=extent] of the damage. ▪ The war could impact the economy on a global scale. [=could impact the economy of the entire world] ▪ They exposed fraud on a grand scale. — see also full-scale, large-scale, small-scale 7 [noncount] technical : a hard substance that is formed in pipes or containers holding water 8 [noncount] Brit : a hard substance that forms on teeth : tartar
▪ buildup of plaque and scale on the teeth