scale
noun uk/skeɪl/ us/skeɪl/
(MEASURE)
B2 [ C ]标度，刻度；等级
a set of numbers, amounts, etc., used to measure or compare the level of something
the Centigrade/Fahrenheit scale 摄氏／华氏温标
How would you rate his work on a scale of 1 to 5? 按照1到5的等级，你给他的工作打几分？
B2 [ C or U ]比例；比例尺
the relation between the real size of something and its size on a map, model, or diagram
a scale of 1:50,000 比例尺为1:50000
This map is large scale (= things are shown in detail). 这张地图的比例尺很大。
Is the bridge drawn to scale (= so that it shows the exact shape of the bridge, but much smaller)? 这座桥是按比例画的吗？
He was building a scale model of the Empire State Building. 他正在做一个帝国大厦的比例模型。
- More examples
- Films are rated on a scale of poor, fair, good and excellent.
- Like all reading book schemes, these books are on a graduated scale of difficulty.
- On a scale of one to ten, I'd rate his latest book a five.
- The new salary scale only refers to company managers and directors.
- Management have offered an extra 2% to staff on the lowest end of the pay scale.
(SIZE)
B2 [ S or U ]大小；规模；范围
the size or level of something, especially when this is large
We don't yet know the scale of the problem. 我们还不知道问题有多严重。
Nuclear weapons cause destruction on a massive scale (= cause a lot of destruction). 核武器杀伤力很大。
My parents used to entertain friends on a large/small scale (= they had large/small parties). 我父母过去常常举行大／小规模的宴会招待朋友。
- More examples
- He doesn't seem to comprehend the scale of the problem
- This is a story about theft, fraud and deceit on an incredible scale.
- If the drought continues, deaths will occur on a massive scale.
- They enjoyed success on a scale unparalleled by any previous pop group.
- This century has witnessed environmental destruction on an unprecedented scale.
(MACHINE)
scales[ plural ] UK (US scale)B2 秤，磅秤
a device for weighing things or people
kitchen/bathroom scales 厨房用秤／浴室体重秤
a pair of scalesmainly UK 一架天平
a weighing device with two containers connected to a metal bar that is free to move up and down about its fixed central point. An object of known weight is put in one container and the thing to be weighed is put in the other.
(MUSIC)
[ C ]音阶
a set of notes played or sung in order, going up or down
the scale of G major G大调音阶
You should practise your scales every day. 你得每天练习音阶。
(SKIN)
[ C usually plural ]（鱼、蛇等动物皮肤表层的）鳞，鳞片
one of the many very small, flat pieces that cover the skin of fish, snakes, etc.
(COVERING)
[ U ] (UK also limescale)（水管或容器内壁的）水垢
a hard, white or grey layer of material that forms on the inside of pipes or containers that heat water
Idioms
large/small-scaleidiom 大／小规模的
A large/small-scale event or activity is large/small in size.
a large-scale investigation 大规模调查
the scales fall from someone's eyesidiom literary （某人）恍然大悟，顿时看清真相
If the scales fall from your eyes, you suddenly know and understand the truth.
scale
verb [ T ] uk/skeɪl/ us/skeɪl/
(CLIMB)
爬越;攀登
to climb up a steep surface, such as a wall or the side of a mountain, often using special equipment
The prisoner scaled the high prison wall and ran off. 囚犯攀越监狱的高墙逃跑了。
(CLEAN TEETH)
medical specialized刮除（牙石或牙斑）
to remove tartar (= hard white substance) and plaque (= soft substance in which bacteria breed) from teeth
The dentist scaled and polished my teeth last week. 上星期牙医给我洗了牙并进行了抛光。
Idiom
scale the heightsidiom 攀上（事业等）高峰
If you scale the heights of a type of work, you are very successful in it.
At the age of 35, she had already scaled the heights of the acting profession. 35岁那年，她已经攀上演艺事业的巅峰。
Phrasal verbs
scale something down 缩减，缩小
to make something smaller than it was or smaller than it was planned to be
A shortage of money has forced them to scale down the project. 由于缺乏资金，他们被迫缩减项目的规模。
scale something up 增加，增大
to increase the size, amount, or importance of something, usually an organization or process
My company is scaling up its operations in Western Asia. 我公司正在扩大西亚的业务。