scale1/skel; skeIl/n 1 [singular 单数, U] how big or important something is 规模﹐程度﹐范围: large-/small-scale a large-scale development project 大规模的开发项目The house is built on a grand scale . 这栋房子建得很气派。People underestimated the sheer scale (=very big size) of the problem. 人们低估了这个问题的严重程度。2 [singular 单数] the full range of different types of people or things 等级﹐级别: One-third of the group had no qualifications at all while, at the other end of the scale , six were qualified teachers. 这一组有三分之一的人没有任何资历﹐而资历最高的六个人是合格教师。They came from opposite ends of the social scale . 他们来自社会的最高层和最低层。3 [C usually singular 一般用单数] a system for measuring how strong, fast, or good something is〔用于计量的〕级别﹐等级: on a scale The earthquake measured 5.8 on the Richter scale. 这次地震是里氏 5.8 级。Your papers will be marked on a scale of one to ten. 你们的试卷将按一到十的等级来评分。4 scales [plural 复数] BrE 【英】scale AmE 【美】a piece of equipment for weighing people or objects 磅秤﹐秤: kitchen scales 厨房用秤a set of bathroom scales (=for weighing people) 一套浴室磅秤see picture at见 WEIGH 图5 [C] a set of marks with regular spaces between them on a tool that is used for measuring things〔测量工具上的〕标度﹐刻度: a ruler with a metric scale 有公制刻度的尺6 [C,U] the relationship between the size of a map, drawing, or model and the actual size of the place or thing that it shows 比例(尺)﹐比例: a scale of 1 inch to the mile 一英寸代表一英里的比例7 [C] a series of musical notes with a fixed distance between them that become gradually higher or lower 音阶8 [C usually plural 一般用复数] the scales on a fish or snake are the small flat pieces of hard skin that cover its body〔鱼或蛇的〕鳞see picture on page 见 A2 页图
scale2v [T] to climb to the top of something that is high 攀登﹐爬上: They scaled a 40-foot wall and escaped. 他们爬上 40 英尺高的墙逃走了。scale sth back/down phr v to reduce the size or effectiveness of something [→ decrease] 缩小﹔减弱: Military operations in the area have been scaled down. 这一地区的军事行动已缩减了规模。scale sth up phr v to increase the size or effectiveness of something 增加﹐扩大: Production at the factory is being scaled up. 这家工厂的生产规模扩大了。