Basic Details
Word: Scale
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A range of levels or sizes used to measure or compare things; the relation between the size of a map or model and the real thing. It also means one of the small hard plates on a fish or snake, or a set of musical notes going up or down.
Synonyms: range, extent, size
How to Spell Scale
Syllables: scale
Tricky part: The word opens with sc, sounded like k, and ends in a silent e that makes the a say its name. Skale and scail are the usual slips.
Watch out for: skale, scail, scal
Memory tip: A snake's scales shine pale in the sun: scale and pale share the same ending, -ale.
Idioms and Phrases
- tip the scales: to be the thing that decides a result Example: "Her calm answers in the interview tipped the scales in her favour."
Usage Examples
Example 1: On this map, one centimetre stands for ten kilometres, so read the scale before you measure.
Example 2: Riya practised the scale of C major on the harmonium every morning.
Example 3: The doctor rated the pain on a scale of one to ten.
Fun Fact
There are really three different words spelt scale. Weighing scales come from an Old Norse word for a bowl, a fish scale from an old French word for a husk, and a scale of levels from Latin scala, a ladder.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word scale as used in the sentence:
The cyclone caused damage on a scale that the coastal villages had never seen before.
a) balance
b) weight
c) extent
d) speed
Show answer
c) extent. On a scale here means how big or widespread the damage was, its extent.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. sissors 2. senery 3. sientist 4. scale
a) a cutting tool with two blades
b) a person who studies science
c) the natural features of a place
d) a range of levels used for measuring
Show answer
d) a range of levels used for measuring. Scissors, scenery and scientist all hide a silent c after the s; scale is the one written in full.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Our science teacher asked us to draw the classroom plan to aelcs on squared paper.
a) laces
b) sales
c) scale
d) scalp
Show answer
c) scale. To scale means at the right size; laces uses the same letters but makes no sense here.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. On a map, a scale of 1 cm to 1 km means ____.
a) 1 cm on the map stands for 1 km on the ground
b) the map shows only places within 1 km of school
c) every road on the map is drawn 1 cm long
d) the whole map is exactly 1 km wide in real life
Show answer
a) 1 cm on the map stands for 1 km on the ground
2. Which of these animals is covered in scales?
a) a cobra
b) a sparrow
c) a goat
d) a frog
Show answer
a) a cobra
