small-scaleadj.
/ˈsmɔːlˌskeɪl/, U.S. /ˈsmɔlˌskeɪl/, /ˈsmɑlˌskeɪl/ 1. Of a map, etc.: drawn to a small scale and therefore showing less detail. Also: designating the cartography involved in making such maps.
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the world > the earth > earth sciences > geography > map-making > map > [adjective] > types of
political1786
physical1797
small-scale1851
modelled1875
palaeolithologic1945
1851 J. W. Leather Let. 23 Aug. in Ordnance Surv. (Scotland): Copies Corr. 7 in Parl. Papers 1851–2 (H.C. 506) LIII. 455 If we want a small-scale map for the purpose of a general view, we can get it from the six-inch map by reduction, but we cannot get the six-inch from the one-inch.
1900 Geogr. Jrnl. 15 595 A very great deal of attention has been paid to the small or geographical work of the Survey... I fully endorse the view of my predecessor as to the importance of this small-scale work.
1934 J. Bygott Introd. Mapwork & Pract. Geogr. vi. 43 After inspecting even a small-scale relief map of Northern England..we realise that the longest rivers flow from the eastern slopes towards the North Sea.
1996 Holiday Which? Jan. 37/1 Map 1 is from a small-scale..national map of France.
2. Operating or carried out on a small scale.
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the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > on a small scale
petit1442
petita1500
petty1552
small-scale1852
one-horse1853
one-horsey1884
petitea1886
small time1915
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [adjective] > small-scale
miniature1714
small-scale1852
small-scale1872
bonsai1971
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [phrase] > on a small scale
in little1604
in parvo1676
in miniature1700
in small1765
in pettoa1846
small-scale1852
in diminutive-
1852 C. W. Hoskyns Talpa 151 It is very fine..to connect one's own small-scale improvements, after this fashion.
1892 G. F. Millin Social Horizon ii. 16 It seems improbable that small-scale farming can possibly be the system of the future.
1937 Amer. Home Apr. 35/1 The sole hope for the small scale grower—amateur or commercial.
1960 Farmer & Stockbreeder 16 Feb. 75/3 The disadvantages of small-scale farming heavily outweighed the advantages.
1995 New Scientist 9 Sept. 34/2 The WWF supports the rights of indigenous people..to hunt reindeer and arctic foxes on the grounds that their activities are relatively small-scale and environmentally sustainable.
3. Of smaller dimensions or extent than the standard or typical kind; miniature.In quot. 1872: having a low ratio of width to length (cf. scale n.3 15).
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the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [adjective] > small-scale
miniature1714
small-scale1852
small-scale1872
bonsai1971
1872 Eng. Mechanic 12 Jan. 435/1 It is much easier to make a small scale pipe do duty for a large one than vice versa.
1886 Trans. Amer. Soc. Civil Engineers 15 465 Eight or ten careful experiments on small scale machine [sic] for fiber stress necessary to produce permanent set in iron and steel pins.
1937 Amer. Home Apr. 38/1 The front room in the basement is a small-scale reception room.
1947 K. S. Walker Brief for Ballet 19 Spectre, as small-scale a ballet as Petrouchka was large.
1989 Premiere Dec. 46/1 Steven Soderbergh's movie is small-scale—an erotic chamber drama shot in close-up.
2011 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 6 Mar. (Arts & Leisure section) 14/1 The so-called MOD discs..are the familiar DVD's slimmed down, small-scale cousins.
4. Relating to, dealing with, or designating features that are perceptible or detectable only by magnification.
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the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [adjective] > extremely small > so as to be invisible
invisible1665
small-scale1924
1924 Science 19 Sept. 261/1 Our intuitive notion of time..is tenable only in large-scale physics, or macro-physics, but untenable in small-scale physics, or micro-physics.
1935 Discovery Mar. 78/1 The small-scale structure of the ice will be examined.
2007 I. Stewart Why Beauty is Truth xiii. 221 The small-scale structure of the universe..was described in extraordinary detail and with exquisite precision by quantum theory.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1851