scale

scale
1) a small, stiff, typically plate-like body in the skin of fishes, serving to protect, colour, and support the body. May be modified into spines, tubercles, bony plates, an exoskeleton, reduced or even lost. Phylogenetically absent in Amphioxi and Cyclostomata, and lost in various examples of the other groups, e.g. Torpedo, Ictalurus. The teleost scale is dermal in origin and consists of two major parts - the outer bony, hyalodentine or sclerite layer and the deeper fibrous section called the lamellar layer, fibrillary plate or basal plate. See placoid scale, ganoid scale, cycloid scale and ctenoid scale (latter two also called leptoid or elasmoid scales). Scales have a central focus or centre, an anterior or oral filed, a posterior or aboral field (visible on the flank), and dorsal and ventral fields. See also annulus, circulus
2) to remove scales from a fish. Usually done by scraping
3) to shed scales
4) calcium buildup or plaque in an aquarium
5) a collective noun (a noun that denotes a collection of persons or things regarded as a unit) for fishes
6) a collective noun (a noun that denotes a collection of persons or things regarded as a unit) for ichthyologists (coined as a joke)

Dictionary of ichthyology. 2009.

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  • SCALE-UP — is a learning environment specifically created to facilitate active, collaborative learning in a studio like setting. Some people think the rooms look more like restaurants than classrooms [ J. Gaffney, E. Richards, M.B. Kustusch, L. Ding, and R …   Wikipedia

  • scale — scale1 [skāl] n. [ME < LL scala (in Vulg., Jacob s ladder) < L, usually as pl., scalae, flight of stairs, ladder < * scandsla < scandere, to climb: see DESCEND] 1. Obs. a) a ladder or flight of stairs b) any means of ascent 2 …   English World dictionary

  • Scale — Scale, n. [Cf. AS. scealu, scalu, a shell, parings; akin to D. schaal, G. schale, OHG. scala, Dan. & Sw. skal a shell, Dan. ski[ae]l a fish scale, Goth. skalja tile, and E. shale, shell, and perhaps also to scale of a balance; but perhaps rather… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scale — Scale, n. [L. scalae, pl., scala staircase, ladder; akin to scandere to climb. See {Scan}; cf. {Escalade}.] 1. A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. Hence, anything graduated, especially when employed as a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scale — Ⅰ. scale [1] ► NOUN 1) each of the small overlapping plates protecting the skin of fish and reptiles. 2) a thick dry flake of skin. 3) a white deposit formed in a kettle, boiler, etc. by the evaporation of water containing lime. 4) tartar formed… …   English terms dictionary

  • Scale — (sk[=a]l), n. [AS. sc[=a]le; perhaps influenced by the kindred Icel. sk[=a]l balance, dish, akin also to D. schaal a scale, bowl, shell, G. schale, OHG. sc[=a]la, Dan. skaal drinking cup, bowl, dish, and perh. to E. scale of a fish. Cf. {Scale}… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scale — Scale, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scaled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Scaling}.] To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system. [1913 Webster] Scaling his present bearing with his past. Shak. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scale — Scale, v. t. 1. To strip or clear of scale or scales; as, to scale a fish; to scale the inside of a boiler. [1913 Webster] 2. To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface. If all the mountains were… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scale — Scale, v. t. [Cf. It. scalare, fr. L. scalae, scala. See {Scale} a ladder.] 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. [1913 Webster] Oft have I scaled the craggy …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scale-up —   [skeɪl ʌp, englisch] das, , Bezeichnung für die Maßstabsvergrößerung bei Anlagen der Verfahrenstechnik. Nach der häufig angewandten Ähnlichkeitstheorie werden bei der Übertragung von Laborergebnissen in den großtechnischen Maßstab möglichst… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • scale — [n1] graduated system calibration, computation, degrees, extent, gamut, gradation, hierarchy, ladder, order, pecking order*, progression, proportion, range, ranking, rate, ratio, reach, register, rule, scope, sequence, series, spectrum, spread,… …   New thesaurus

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