/skeɪl ||; skel/noun1 [C,U] the size of sth, especially when compared to other things （相对的）大小，规模，程度: We shall be making the product on a large scale next year. 明年我们将大规模生产这种产品。At this stage it is impossible to estimate the full scale of the disaster. 现阶段还无法充分估计这场灾难严重性。
2 [C] a series of marks on a tool or piece of equipment that you use for measuring sth （度量衡工具上的）刻度，标度: The ruler has one scale in centimetres and one scale in inches. 直尺上有厘米的刻度和英寸的刻度。
3 [C] a series of numbers, amounts, etc that are used for measuring or fixing the level of sth （用于量度、衡量程度的一套标级数字）: The earthquake measured 6.5 on the Richter scale. 这次地震为里氏6.5级。the new pay scale for nurses 新的护士薪级表 ☞Look at the Beaufort scale and the Richter scale. 参看the Beaufort scale及the Richter scale。
4 [C] the relationship between the actual size of sth and its size on a map or plan （实物与图表之间的）比例，比率: The map has a scale of one centimetre to a kilometre. 这地图的比例是一厘米代表一千米。a scale of 1: 50000 (= one to fifty thousand) 比例1：50000We need a map with a larger scale. 我们需要一张比例较大的地图。a scale model 比例模型
5 scales [pl] a piece of equipment that is used for weighing sb/sth 秤；磅秤: I weighed it on the kitchen scales. 我把它放在厨房的秤上称。
6 [C] a series of musical notes which go up or down in a fixed order. People play or sing scales to improve their technical ability 音阶: the scale of C major C大调音阶
7 [C] one of the small flat pieces of hard material that cover the body of some fish and animals （鱼及动物身上的）鳞，鳞片: the scales of a snake 蛇鳞 ☞picture on page C1 见C1页插图