scale有秤的意思。scale可作名词和及物动词两种词性，基本含义除了“秤”之外，还有“规模”、“程度”、“级别”、“标度”、“比例”、“水垢”、“攀登”、“到达…顶点”、“改变…的大小”等意思。

1、作为名词时，意为规模;(尤指与其他事物相比较时的)范围;程度;等级;级别;等级体系;标度;秤;比例;音阶;鳞;水垢;牙垢。

例句：Here was corruption on a grand scale .

这里的腐败现象曾十分严重。

How much does it read on the scale?

刻度显示的是多少？

Both plans are drawn to the same scale.

两张平面图是按同一比例绘制的。

However, he underestimates the scale of the problem...

然而，他低估了问题的严重性。

They rebuilt the house on an even more lavish scale than before.

他们重造了房子，规模甚至比以前更大。

On a world scale the earthquake was a tiddler.

从全球范围看，这次地震算不了什么。

All right, on a scale of one to five, how bad's your pain?

好吧，程度1—5，你的背有多痛？

2、作为及物动词时，意为攀登;到达…顶点;去鳞;刮除牙石;改变…的大小。

例句：He has scaled the heights of his profession.

他登上了他事业的顶峰。

The dentist scaled and polished my teeth.

牙医为我刮除牙石，抛光了牙齿。

Text can be scaled from 4 points to 108 points without any loss of quality.

正文可以从4点变到108点，但印刷质量丝毫不会降低。

He learned to scale a rock face from his father.

他从他父亲那儿学得攀登崖面的技巧。

Cut off the scales and cut open the stomach.

去鳞，切开鱼腹，除去腹内物。

The dentist scaled and polished my teeth.

牙医为我刮除牙石，抛光了牙齿。