# scale

> English word · Noun · IPA /skeɪl/ · frequency rank #1,575

## Definitions
1. A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending.
2. An ordered, usually numerical sequence used for measurement; means of assigning a magnitude.
3. Size; scope.
4. The ratio of depicted distance to actual distance.
5. A line or bar associated with a drawing, used to indicate measurement when the image has been magnified or reduced.
6. A series of notes spanning an octave, tritave, or pseudo-octave, used to make melodies.
7. A mathematical base for a numeral system; radix.
8. Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order.
9. A standard amount of money to be paid for a service, for example union-negotiated amounts received by a performer or writer; similar to wage scale or pay grade.

## Etymology
From Middle English scale, from Latin scāla, usually in plural scālae (“a flight of steps, stairs, staircase, ladder”), for *skand-slā, from scandō (“to climb”); see scan, ascend, descend, etc. Doublet of scala.

## Easily confused with
- **SLE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-sle)
- **seal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-seal)
- **sole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-sole)
- **scan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-scan)
- **scam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-scam)
- **scar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-scar)
- **scat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-scat)
- **state** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-state)
- **small** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-small)
- **space** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-space)
- **share** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-share)
- **style** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-style)
- **stage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-stage)
- **shall** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-shall)
- **scene** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-scene)
- **score** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-score)
- **shape** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-shape)
- **smile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-smile)
- **shame** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-shame)
- **scary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scale-vs-scary)

## Common misspellings (7)
`csale`, `sacle`, `scael`, `scalle`, `sccale`, `sclae`, `sscale`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/scale