Definitions for Scales

• Definition
• Anagrams (107)

Scales scale

Spelling: [skeyl]

IPA: /skeɪl/

Scales is a 6 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 8 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 10 points.

You can make 107 anagrams from letters in Scales (acelss).

Definitions for Scales

noun

1. 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.
2. any thin, platelike piece, lamina, or flake that peels off from a surface, as from the skin.
3. 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.
4. scale insect.
5. a coating or incrustation, as on the inside of a boiler, formed by the precipitation of salts from the water.
6. 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.
7. scales. a cause of blindness or ignorance, as regarding the true nature of a person, situation, etc.: Bible. an unspecified affliction that caused Paul to become temporarily blind. Acts 9:18.
8. Often, scales. a balance or any of various other instruments or devices for weighing:
9. Also called scalepan. either of the pans or dishes of a balance.
10. Scales, Astronomy, Astrology. the constellation or sign of Libra; Balance.
11. a succession or progression of steps or degrees; graduated series:
12. a series of marks laid down at determinate distances, as along a line, for purposes of measurement or computation:
13. a graduated line, as on a map, representing proportionate size.
14. a table of graduated rates, as of prices or wages:
15. a wage that conforms to such rates:
16. 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:
17. an instrument with graduated spaces, as for measuring.
18. the proportion that a representation of an object bears to the object itself:
19. the ratio of distances or sometimes of areas on a map to the corresponding values on the earth.
20. a certain relative or proportionate size or extent:
21. a standard of measurement or estimation; point of reference by which to gauge or rate:
22. Music. a succession of tones ascending or descending according to fixed intervals, especially such a series beginning on a particular note:
23. Education, Psychology. a graded series of tests or tasks for measuring intelligence, achievement, adjustment, etc.
24. Arithmetic. a system of numerical notation:
25. anything by which one may ascend.
26. Obsolete. a ladder. a flight of stairs.

Idioms

1. tip the scale / scales, to weigh: to turn the trend of favor, control, etc.:
2. turn the scale / scales, to decide in favor of one side or faction; determine the outcome:

verb (used with object)

1. to remove the scales or scale from:
2. to remove in scales or thin layers.
3. to cover with an incrustation or scale.
4. to skip, as a stone over water.
5. Dentistry. to remove (calculus) from the teeth with instruments.
6. to weigh in or as if in scales.
7. to have a weight of.
8. to climb by or as if by a ladder; climb up or over.
9. to make according to scale.
10. to adjust in amount according to a fixed scale or proportion (often followed by down or up):
11. to measure by or as if by a scale.
12. Lumbering. to measure (logs). to estimate the amount of (standing timber).
13. Australian Informal. to ride on (public transportation) without paying the fare.

verb (used without object)

1. to come off in scales.
2. to shed scales.
3. to become coated with scale, as the inside of a boiler.
4. to climb; ascend; mount.
5. to progress in a graduated series.

Origin of Scales

1250-1300; (noun) Middle English Middle French escale West Germanic *skāla; akin to scale²; (v.) late Middle English scalen to remove scales from, derivat

Examples for Scales

Here and there the waters gleamed like the scales of some lovely fish.

In his reply he placed, point by point, the answers in the scales along with his own accusations.

I've just tipped the scales at a hundred-and-three in my sweater.

Kerry is positioned to put an American thumb on the scales discretely, with the president's support.

The aftershocks tipped the scales decidedly in the favor of the government, the holiday, and the rum.

And Lady L, tipping the scales at 225 tons, is no Mary-Kate Olsen.

Lisa placed a sheet of stout paper in the pan of the scales.

Those who performed it all wore devil-masks and garments of scales.

After he had showered be stepped on the scales, and he had lost six and a half pounds.

Once the bird was fully cleaned out, it was time to put it on the scales.