Scales: meaning, definitions and examples

🎵

Add to dictionary

scales

[ skeɪlz ]

^{Context #1}

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}

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}

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:

🇵🇹 balanças

🇮🇳 तराजू

पैमाना
तराजू का वजन

🇩🇪 Waagen

🇮🇩 timbangan

🇺🇦 ваги

🇵🇱 wagi

🇯🇵 はかり

🇫🇷 balances

🇪🇸 balanzas

🇹🇷 teraziler

🇰🇷 저울

🇸🇦 موازين

🇨🇿 váhy

🇸🇰 váhy

🇨🇳 秤

🇸🇮 tehtnice

🇮🇸 vogir

🇰🇿 таразылар

🇬🇪 სასწორები

🇦🇿 tərəzilər

🇲🇽 balanzas

Word origin

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.