/skeɪl ||; skel/noun
1 [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1:50000
We 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