Bathometer and Scale

noun

• An instrument that measures the depth of water.
  • synonyms: bathymeter

(n.) An instrument for measuring depths, especially one for taking soundings without a sounding line.

noun

• An ordered reference standard.
  • usage: "judging on a scale of 1 to 10"
  • synonyms: scale of measurement, graduated table, ordered series
• Relative magnitude.
  • usage: "they entertained on a grand scale"
• The ratio between the size of something and a representation of it.
  • usage: "the scale of the map"; "the scale of the model"
• A specialized leaf or bract that protects a bud or catkin.
  • synonyms: scale leaf
• A thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin.
  • synonyms: scurf, exfoliation
• Music) a series of notes differing in pitch according to a specific scheme (usually within an octave. ()
  • synonyms: musical scale
• A measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass.
  • synonyms: weighing machine
• An indicator having a graduated sequence of marks.
• A metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners.
  • synonyms: plate, shell
• A flattened rigid plate forming part of the body covering of many animals.

verb

• Measure by or as if by a scale.
  • usage: "This bike scales only 25 pounds"
• Pattern, make, regulate, set, measure, or estimate according to some rate or standard.
• Take by attacking with scaling ladders.
  • usage: "The troops scaled the walls of the fort"
• Reach the highest point of.
  • usage: "We scaled the Mont Blanc"
  • synonyms: surmount
• Climb up by means of a ladder.
• Remove the scales from.
  • usage: "scale fish"
  • synonyms: descale
• Measure with or as if with scales.
  • usage: "scale the gold"
• Size or measure according to a scale.
  • usage: "This model must be scaled down"

• (n.) A scale insect. (See below.).
• (n.) A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending.
• (n.) One of the small, thin, membranous, bony or horny pieces which form the covering of many fishes and reptiles, and some mammals, belonging to the dermal part of the skeleton or dermoskeleton. See Cycloid, Ctenoid, and Ganoid.
• (v.t.) To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system.
• (n.) One of the small scalelike structures covering parts of some invertebrates, as those on the wings of Lepidoptera and on the body of Thysanura; the elytra of certain annelids. See Lepidoptera.
• (v.t.) To strip or clear of scale or scales; as, to scale a fish; to scale the inside of a boiler.
• (n.) A series of spaces marked by lines, and representing proportionately larger distances; as, a scale of miles, yards, feet, etc., for a map or plan.
• (n.) The thin oxide which forms on the surface of iron forgings. It consists essentially of the magnetic oxide, Fe3O4. Also, a similar coating upon other metals.
• (v.i.) To lead up by steps; to ascend.
• (v.i.) To separate; to scatter.
• (n.) The sign or constellation Libra.
• (n.) A basis for a numeral system; as, the decimal scale; the binary scale, etc.
• (n.) The dish of a balance; hence, the balance itself; an instrument or machine for weighing; as, to turn the scale; -- chiefly used in the plural when applied to the whole instrument or apparatus for weighing. Also used figuratively.
• (v.t.) To climb by a ladder or as if by a ladder; to ascend by steps or by climbing; to clamber up; as, to scale the wall of a fort.
• (n.) Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order; as, a scale of being.
• (v.t.) To clean, as the inside of a cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder.
• (n.) Hence, any layer or leaf of metal or other material, resembling in size and thinness the scale of a fish; as, a scale of iron, of bone, etc.
• (v.i.) To separate and come off in thin layers or laminae; as, some sandstone scales by exposure.
• (v.t.) To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface.
• (n.) The thin metallic side plate of the handle of a pocketknife. See Illust. of Pocketknife.
• (v.t.) To scatter; to spread.
• (n.) Hence, anything graduated, especially when employed as a measure or rule or marked by lines at regular intervals.
• (n.) The graduated series of all the tones, ascending or descending, from the keynote to its octave; -- called also the gamut. It may be repeated through any number of octaves. See Chromatic scale, Diatonic scale, Major scale, and Minor scale, under Chromatic, Diatonic, Major, and Minor.
• (n.) An incrustation deposit on the inside of a vessel in which water is heated, as a steam boiler.
• (n.) Relative dimensions, without difference in proportion of parts; size or degree of the parts or components in any complex thing, compared with other like things; especially, the relative proportion of the linear dimensions of the parts of a drawing, map, model, etc., to the dimensions of the corresponding parts of the object that is represented; as, a map on a scale of an inch to a mile.
• (n.) A mathematical instrument, consisting of a slip of wood, ivory or metal, with one or more sets of spaces graduated and numbered on its surface, for measuring or laying off distances, etc., as in drawing, plotting, and the like. See Gunter's scale.
• (n.) A small appendage like a rudimentary leaf, resembling the scales of a fish in form, and often in arrangement; as, the scale of a bud, of a pine cone, and the like. The name is also given to the chaff on the stems of ferns.

Payment of different rates of interest on CDs of varying maturities. A bank is said to "post a' Scale'." Commercial paper dealers also post scales.

(DoD, NATO) The ratio or fraction between the distance on a map, chart, or photograph and the corresponding distance on the surface of the Earth. See also conversion scale; graphic scale; photographic scale; principal scale.