scale

n.

1. A series for measurement

   rule, computation, system; see measure 2, order 3.

2. A flake or film

   thin coating, covering, incrustation; see flake, layer.

3. A device for weighing; often plural

   steelyard, stilliard, balance, scale beam, spring scale, trebuchet, Roman balance, stapel scale, Danish balance.

   Varieties of scales, sense 3, include: beam, automatic indicating, counter, cylinder, drum, barrel, flexure plate, plate fulcrum, platform, spring, electronic, digital, computing, household, miner's, assayer's.

4. Musical tones

   range, diatonic scale, chromatic scale, major scale, minor scale, whole tone scale, harmonic scale, melodic scale; see also music.

on a large scale

on a small scale

scale

v.

1. To climb

   ascend, surmount, mount; see climb 2.

2. To peel

   exfoliate, strip off, flake; see peel, skin.

3. To measure

   compare, balance, compute, size, allow due weight, estimate, calibrate, graduate, have a weight of, make of an exact weight.