释义 |
scale1 /skeɪl /noun1Each of the small, thin horny or bony plates protecting the skin of fish and reptiles, typically overlapping one another.Use your hands to spread the potato slices out so that they overlap like unruly fish scales, but are not more than 1 or 2 layers thick....- It attaches to fish with its mouth, rasps through scales and skin with its tongue, and feeds on the body fluids of the host fish, often killing it.
- Fish bones and scales and cat skulls have also been found.
Synonyms plate technical lamella, lamina, squama, scute, scutum 2Something resembling a fish scale in appearance or function, in particular:Her legs melded together, and tiny silver scales appeared on her lower half....- A draconic man rather tall and with green scales and amber eyes appeared over the gate staring at her.
- Armadillos are mostly of moderate size, up to about 60 cm in body length, and are covered with bony scales.
2.1A thick dry flake of skin.Brushing your baby's scalp with a soft brush, like a toothbrush, can help loosen scales or flakes....- Skin cells regularly die and flake off in scales - but in people with psoriasis this process happens within days rather than weeks.
- Psoriatic lesions usually have thicker scales that appear silvery after rubbing and bleed on removal.
Synonyms flake; (scales) scurf, dandruff technical furfur 2.2A rudimentary leaf, feather, or bract.Dwarf mistletoes have no leaves at all, just bud scales - the plants look like drab twigs....- For instance, you can smear a homemade mixture into the opened scales of a pinecone, then hang the cone from a tree branch.
- The buds left at winter pruning begin to swell in the few weeks prior to budbreak, and budbreak itself is marked by the first signs of green in the vineyard, as the first young leaves unfold and push through the bud scales.
2.3Each of numerous microscopic tile-like structures covering the wings of butterflies and moths.Tiny scales cover the adult butterfly's wings that aid them during these critical searches. 3 [mass noun] A flaky deposit, in particular:If left untreated, the scale may become thick, yellow and greasy and, occasionally, secondary bacterial infection may occur....- The lesion is demarcated sharply and the scale often is thick.
- These patches may have a thick silvery-white scale of dead skin on the top, and may be itchy.
3.1A white deposit formed in a kettle, boiler, etc. by the evaporation of water containing lime: banging sounds emanating from the boiler may be caused by a build-up of scale...- This is the white scale or platy stuff that you may see on the inside of the dishwasher or coffee pots or other hot water contact areas.
- I live in a hard water area and am concerned about the build-up of scale in the central heating system.
Synonyms limescale; deposit, encrustation, coating; British fur 3.2Tartar formed on teeth.If plaque is not thoroughly removed, salts from the saliva cause it to become hard and form scale or dental calculus. 3.3A coating of oxide formed on heated metal: a spray-on chemical for removing welding scale and heat discoloration from stainless steel...- Every so often it is advisable to remove the mineral scale that builds up on the electrical heater element and in the reservoir pan.
- Pipes can become clogged with scale that reduces water flow and ultimately requires pipe replacement.
- Mr Wilkinson was of the opinion that since water treatment equipment had been installed only recently, there were likely to have been corrosion and a build up of scale over the years inside the pipe work.
verb1 [with object] Remove scale or scales from: he scales the fish and removes the innards...- She shrugged it off and returned to scaling the fish.
- Ensure that fish fillets are scaled and skinned and that there is no blood or viscera left on flesh.
- To prevent fish from sticking to the grill, don't scale the fish.
1.1Remove tartar from (teeth) by scraping them: dental hygienists give treatment such as scaling and polishing teeth...- Visit your dentist or hygienist to have your teeth scaled and polished on a regular basis.
- In the 1950s we scaled and cleaned teeth mainly by hand ultrasonic scalers and efficient aspirators of particulate matter and spray had yet to appear.
- The Yorkie has strong, terrier-type teeth, but it is well to have them scaled by a veterinarian at regular intervals.
2 [no object] (often as noun scaling) (Especially of the skin) form scales: moisturizers can ease off drying and scaling...- Lack of moisture causes an abnormal skin barrier, which induces abnormal desquamation and leads to scaling.
- First, the scalp is examined for evidence of erythema, scaling, or inflammation.
- Psoriasis of the perineal skin presents as redness with itching and scaling.
2.1Come off in scales or thin pieces; flake off: the paint was scaling from the brick walls Phrases the scales fall from someone's eyes Derivatives scaleless /ˈskeɪllɪs/ adjective ...- The giant catfish, the world's biggest scaleless freshwater fish, is in danger of extinction and listed as an endangered species in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
- Blennies have scaleless, elongated bodies, and comb-like, slender, close-set teeth, which can be either fixed or movable.
- Beyond P. spathula being a source of caviar, their skin is thick, scaleless, strong, and tans well, making it a marketable product.
Origin Middle English: shortening of Old French escale, from the Germanic base of scale2. English has three main words scale, two of which share an ancestry. The scale of fishes and reptiles has the same root as the scale used for weighing, and both are related to shell. The first scale is the one in the scales fall from someone's eyes, ‘someone is no longer deceived’. In the biblical Acts of the Apostles the expression describes how St Paul, blinded by his vision on the road to Damascus, was given his sight back by God. The weighing scale had the early sense ‘drinking cup’(a meaning which survives in South African English) which probably transferred to the pans of the scales. It comes from Old Norse skál ‘bowl’, also source of the drinking toast skol. The scale in music and measuring derives from Latin scala ‘ladder’, from the root of scandere ‘to climb’, an element in ascend, descend, and condescend, all Late Middle English. See also echelon, scan
Rhymes ail, ale, assail, avail, bail, bale, bewail, brail, Braille, chain mail, countervail, curtail, dale, downscale, drail, dwale, entail, exhale, fail, faille, flail, frail, Gael, Gail, gale, Grail, grisaille, hail, hale, impale, jail, kale, mail, male, webmail, nonpareil, outsail, pail, pale, quail, rail, sail, sale, sangrail, shale, snail, stale, swale, tail, tale, they'll, trail, upscale, vail, vale, veil, surveil, wail, wale, whale, Yale scale2 /skeɪl /noun1 (usually scales) An instrument for weighing, originally a simple balance (a pair of scales) but now usually a device with an electronic or other internal weighing mechanism: bathroom scales kitchen scales...- The Lord Christ is placing before us a pair of scales, and on one side of the balances is laid the whole world.
- Mr Li presides over it like a lean-shaven Confucius, grinding up powders and weighing remedies on a delicate pair of scales before dispatching them to the kitchen.
- And, it's rider held a pair of scales in his hand.
Synonyms weighing machine, balance, pair of scales; steelyard 1.1 (also scale pan) Either of the dishes on a simple balance.A one gramme weight is placed on the scale pan of an electronic balance and the balance is covered by a glass bell jar....- There is always going to be a little left in the tube over the scale pan and RCBS says to use the ‘trickle’ key to empty it.
- Lyman also has an accessory called the ‘Powder Pal’ that combines the scale pan with a powder funnel.
1.2 (the Scales) The zodiacal sign or constellation Libra. 2South African A large drinking container for beer or other alcoholic drink. verbWeigh a specified weight: some men scaled less than ninety pounds...- The elder statesman had another perch bag of 3-13 as did third-placed man Adrian Goodwin who scaled 2-4oz.
- His mother, Norma, is from Aghabullogue, Coachford, Co Cork, and the baby scaled 8lb 6oz.
Phrases throw something on (or into) the scale tip (or turn) the scales Origin Middle English (in the sense 'drinking cup', surviving in South African English): from Old Norse skál 'bowl', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch schaal, German Schale 'bowl', also to English dialect shale 'dish'. scale3 /skeɪl /noun1A graduated range of values forming a standard system for measuring or grading something: a new salary scale is planned for all universities...- After 12 months, the five patients improved by almost 40% on a standard scale measuring motor abilities.
- The BMC workers draw different pay scales ranging from basic pay of Rs. 3480 to Rs. 17890.
- We also used a modified version of a standard scale to measure level of social support.
Synonyms calibrated system, calibration, graduated system, system of measurement, measuring system, register hierarchy, ladder, ranking, pecking order, order, spectrum, progression, succession, sequence, series 1.1The full range of different levels of people or things, from lowest to highest: two men at opposite ends of the social scale at the other end of the scale, premiership clubs are forced to pay huge wages...- The Justice gave the accused in that case a credit on a scale of 0.5 to 1.
- On a scale of one to five, where one is the most harmful, Ofsted inspections score 1.7.
- But at the other end of the scale another friend of mine has had twice as many different partners then me.
1.2A series of marks at regular intervals in a line used in measuring something: the mean delivery time is plotted against a scale on the right...- Panelists must then complete an evaluation of the samples and mark the line scale for the intensity of each attribute.
- While the patient looked at each tool, the data collector read the words on each VAS and provided a pencil or pen for the patient to mark on the scale.
- Have them wait 30 seconds or so, and then ask them to rate their energy level once again by marking the scale.
1.3A device having a series of marks at regular intervals for measuring: she read the exact distance off a scale...- The device reads UPC codes, interfaces with an electronic scale and downloads the audit data into your computer.
- All of these outcomes were measured on visual analog scales with scores expressed as millimeters from to 100.
- Most gauging and wantage rods provide wantage measurements with direct reading scales calibrated in gallons.
1.4A rule determining the distances between marks on a scale: the vertical axis is given on a logarithmic scale...- To normalize the 2 distributions, we performed the analysis with data transformed on a logarithmic scale.
- Second, the scale marked on the rule is nonlinear and (given the technology of the time) had to be marked by hand from a master pattern.
- Another measure, the geometric mean cost, can be derived by transforming the costs onto a logarithmic scale, calculating the average, and transforming this back.
2 [in singular] The relative size or extent of something: no one foresaw the scale of the disaster everything in the house is on a grand scale...- People of Belgaum are known to celebrate festivals on a grand scale, but the bursting of crackers was limited this time.
- Well, it's hard to prove yet on a grand scale, in part because a relative minority of people shop online.
- It's a very commendable artistic adventure - to ask the small Ballet B.C. company of 14 dancers to work on a grand scale, to achieve on a small budget.
Synonyms extent, size, scope, magnitude, dimensions, range, breadth, compass, degree, reach, spread, sweep 2.1 [often as modifier] A ratio of size in a map, model, drawing, or plan: a one-fifth scale model of a seven-storey building an Ordnance map on a scale of 1:2500...- They pay all the expenses of the project with their own money coming from the sale of preparatory drawings, collages, scale models, all created before the completion of a project.
- Floor plans and a scale model of the Gallery Quay development are on show today from 2-4pm at the on site marketing suite.
- First, they built a one to ten scale model: a large object, which allowed them to work out the nuances of the form, and its spaces and lighting.
Synonyms ratio, proportion, relative size 3 Music An arrangement of the notes in any system of music in ascending or descending order of pitch: the scale of C major...- An ancient musical system, Chinese music uses a scale of seven notes, but focuses on five core tones with two changing tones.
- When I was a young boy as a school musician, I learned that music was more than scales or keys or how to make sure I was always in tune.
- One of the most difficult passages for the violin in the first movement is a melodic minor one-octave scale in fingered octaves.
4 (in full scale of notation) Mathematics A system of numerical notation in which the value of a digit depends upon its position in the number, successive positions representing successive powers of a fixed base: the conversion of the number to the binary scale...- The scale of notation for the DR score ranged from 0, for resistant plants similar to Kas - 1, to 4 for susceptible plants similar to Col-gl1.
- The larger the base scale, the greater is the accuracy of the ACCS component in fulfilling its tasks.
5 Photography The range of exposures over which a photographic material will give an acceptable variation in density.That is, the toe and shoulder of Azo form a much smaller part of the exposure scale of Azo as compared to traditional enlarging papers....- For example, the tonal scale of cyanotype varies from 9-11 steps with different light sources.
- The chloride papers have a longer scale than bromide papers anyway, and the long development times bring out their best qualities.
verb [with object]1Climb up or over (something high and steep): thieves scaled a high fence...- CD players, watches, bottles of spirits and cash were taken in the second incident when the thieves scaled a fence, broke through the main door and climbed through a kitchen hatch.
- The thieves had scaled two fences and dragged the pup out of her locked kennel and lifted her over the walls, leaving two less valuable dogs behind.
- However, the beckon of the forest - a canopy of leaves under their head - far outweighed the consequences of scaling the valley slopes again.
Synonyms climb, ascend, go up, go over, clamber up, shin (up), scramble up, mount; North American shinny (up) rare escalade 2Represent in proportional dimensions; reduce or increase in size according to a common scale: (as adjective scaled) scaled plans of the house...- The geodesic grid is scaled according to the size of each dome and except in the smallest dome, where it becomes rather dense, the effect is amazingly light for such enormous spans.
- Stipulated building conditions were also scaled according to the size of the proportion granted.
- But it's nicely scaled and proportioned, and front porches enliven the streets.
2.1 [no object] (Of a quantity or property) be variable according to a particular scale.The Finns have a rather different approach, extending their legendary progressive views to parking fines, which scale according to one's annual earnings....- Asymmetrical virtualization, by contrast, can scale to any level, as the appliance does not handle any data flow or physical connections.
- They start as low as 500GB and can scale up to tens of terabytes, for an investment as low as five cents per megabyte.
3North American Estimate the amount of timber that will be produced from (a log or uncut tree): the operators were accustomed to having their logs scaled for inventory control Phrases off the scale play (or sing or practise) scales to scale in scale Phrasal verbs scale something back/down (or up) Derivatives scaler /ˈskeɪlə/ noun ...- A scaler would come out, measure the logs and they would be paid.
- Archie Brown was first a ship scaler, and then a longshoreman - a dockworker all his life.
- But noisy transfers really give scalers a hard time, and cause even more artifacts than are actually in the material.
Origin Late Middle English: from Latin scala 'ladder' (the verb via Old French escaler or medieval Latin scalare 'climb'), from the base of Latin scandere 'to climb'. |