/skeɪl/
Translation
A machine you stand on to measure weight; also a set of numbers used to measure or compare things.
Word origin
From Old Norse skal, meaning bowl, the pan of a weighing balance; the number sense comes separately from Latin scala, a ladder.
- Origin
- Old Norse
- Root
- skal
Examples
.
In British English people often say "the scales" for this machine.
, ?
Here a "scale" is a line of numbers used to measure something.
surprised .
The "scale" of something can also mean how big it is.
Used in
Grammar articles
(6)Ellipsis and substitution in English: I think so, neither do I, and the words you are allowed to leave out
Gradable and ungradable adjectives: why very furious sounds wrong, and which intensifier goes where
Modal verbs in English: rules, examples and how to use them
Modals of deduction in English: must be, might be, could be and can't be
Past modals in English: should have, could have, must have and might have
Verb patterns with objects in English: want somebody to do, make somebody do, and see somebody doing
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Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 54.