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Scales: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŽต
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scales

 

[ skeษชlz ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

music

A series of notes in ascending or descending order, forming the basis of a musical composition.

Synonyms

keys, notes, tonic

Examples of usage

  • She played the scales on the piano before starting her performance.
  • Learning the scales is essential for any musician.
Context #2 | Noun

measurement

An instrument or device for weighing.

Synonyms

balance, weighbridge, weighing machine

Examples of usage

  • The doctor asked the patient to step on the scales to measure their weight.
  • The luggage exceeded the weight limit on the scales.
Context #3 | Noun

fish

A hard, bony, overlapping plate forming the external covering of certain animals, such as fish and reptiles.

Synonyms

armour, plates, shells

Examples of usage

  • The scales of the fish shimmered in the sunlight.
  • The snake shed its scales as it grew.

Translations

Translations of the word "scales" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น balanรงas

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคคเคฐเคพเคœเฅ‚

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Waagen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ timbangan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒะฐะณะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ wagi

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใฏใ‹ใ‚Š

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท balances

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ balanzas

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท teraziler

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ €์šธ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ูˆุงุฒูŠู†

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ vรกhy

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ vรกhy

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็งค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ tehtnice

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ vogir

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั‚ะฐั€ะฐะทั‹ะปะฐั€

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒแƒกแƒฌแƒแƒ แƒ”แƒ‘แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ tษ™rษ™zilษ™r

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ balanzas

Etymology

The word 'scales' originated from the Old French word 'escale' meaning 'a ladder rung'. It was later used to refer to the graduated series of musical tones. The use of 'scales' for measuring weight dates back to the 14th century. The term 'scales' in the context of fish or reptile covering has been in use since the 14th century as well.

See also: downscale, scalable, scale, scaled, scaling, upscale.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,576, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.