Scale, n. [L. scalae, pl., scala staircase, ladder; akin to scandere to
climb. See Scan; cf. Escalade.] 1. A ladder; a series of steps; a means
of ascending. [Obs.]
2. Hence, anything graduated, especially when employed as a measure or
rule, or marked by lines at regular intervals. Specifically: (a) A
mathematical instrument, consisting of a slip of wood, ivory, or metal,
with one or more sets of spaces graduated and numbered on its surface,
for measuring or laying off distances, etc., as in drawing, plotting,
and the like. See Gunter's scale. (b) A series of spaces marked by
lines, and representing proportionately larger distances; as, a scale
of miles, yards, feet, etc., for a map or plan. (c) A basis for a
numeral system; as, the decimal scale; the binary scale, etc. (d)
(Mus.) The graduated series of all the tones, ascending or descending,
from the keynote to its octave; -- called also the gamut. It may be
repeated through any number of octaves. See Chromatic scale, Diatonic
scale, Major scale, and Minor scale, under Chromatic, Diatonic, Major,
and Minor.
3. Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees;
progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order; as, a scale of
being.
There is a certain scale of duties . . . which for want of studying
in right order, all the world is in confusion.
Milton.
4. Relative dimensions, without difference in proportion of parts; size
or degree of the parts or components in any complex thing, compared
with other like things; especially, the relative proportion of the
linear dimensions of the parts of a drawing, map, model, etc., to the
dimensions of the corresponding parts of the object that is
represented; as, a map on a scale of an inch to a mile.
Scale of chords, a graduated scale on which are given the lengths of
the chords of arcs from 0° to 90° in a circle of given radius, -- used
in measuring given angles and in plotting angles of given numbers of
degrees.
Scale, v. t. [Cf. It. scalare, fr. L. scalae, scala. See Scale a
ladder.] To climb by a ladder, or as if by a ladder; to ascend by steps
or by climbing; to clamber up; as, to scale the wall of a fort.
Oft have I scaled the craggy oak.
Spenser.