<B>scale-down, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> being reduced by a certain proportion. <BR> <I>Ex. Mill buying was scale-down in nature with the cotton textile market currently in a lull (Wall Street Journal).</I> <DD><I>noun </I> a proportional reduction. <BR> <I>Ex. They're buying a little on a scale-down in the stocks they like (New York Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="scaledquail">
<B>scaled quail,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a quail of the western and southwestern United States, having a crest and slate-blue feathers. </DL>
<B>scale hopper,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a device in the cupola of a grain elevator for weighing the grain. </DL>
<A NAME="scaleinsect">
<B>scale insect,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> any one of various small insects that feed on and often destroy plants by piercing them and sucking the sap. The females have the body and eggs covered by a waxy scale or shield formed by a secretion from the body. Certain kinds are a source of lac or dye. </DL>
<A NAME="scaleleaf">
<B>scale leaf,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> one of the parts that unite to cover a bud in winter; scale. </DL>
<A NAME="scaleless">
<B>scaleless, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>without scales. <BR> <I>Ex. The catfish is scaleless.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>not done to scale. <BR> <I>Ex. a scaleless drawing or sculpture.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="scalemodel">
<B>scale model,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a model of something with all parts proportional. <BR> <I>Ex. a scale model of the new hospital.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="scalemoss">
<B>scale moss,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> any one of various liverworts with small, overlapping, scalelike leaves. </DL>
<A NAME="scalene">
<B>scalene, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>(of a triangle) having three unequal sides. <DD><B> 2. </B>(of a cone or other solid figure) having the axis inclined to the base. </DL>
<A NAME="scalenemuscle">
<B>scalene muscle,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> any one of several triangular muscles that connect the upper ribs with vertebrae. </DL>
<A NAME="scalepan">
<B>scalepan, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> either one of the dishes or pans of a balance. <BR> <I>Ex. ... naughty mice who won't stay on the scalepan while their food intake is being measured (New Scientist).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="scaler">
<B>scaler, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a person or thing that scales. <BR> <I>Ex. We are soul-probers, star-mappers, wood-walkers, scalers of Everests, pursuers of tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow (Atlantic).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>an instrument for removing scales from fish. <DD><B> 3. </B>a device that records impulses electronically by selecting them in groups when the impulses run through a circuit too rapidly to be measured by the metering equipment. <BR> <I>Ex. A scaler unit counts the scatter or impulses for one or two minutes (New Scientist).</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>an instrument used by dentists to remove tartar from the teeth. </DL>
<A NAME="scales">
<B>scales, </B>noun pl.<DL COMPACT><DD> See under <B>scale</B> (2) (n. def. 2). </DL>
<A NAME="scales">
<B>Scales, </B>noun pl. <B>=Libra.</B></DL>
<A NAME="scaleup">
<B>scale-up, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> increased by a certain proportion. <BR> <I>Ex. Trading was slow but mill and commission house buying met mostly scale-up hedging and liquidation (Wall Street Journal).</I> <DD><I>noun </I> a proportional increase. <BR> <I>Ex. The scale-up from pilot plant to full production was a billion to one, surely the greatest in technological history (Scientific American).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="scalic">
<B>scalic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with a musical scale or scales. <BR> <I>Ex. The music doggedly pursues repetitive triadic or scalic patterns (London Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="scaliness">
<B>scaliness, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> scaly quality or condition. </DL>
<A NAME="scaling">
<B>scaling, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>scales, as of a fish. <DD><B> 2. </B>the arrangement of scales, such as on a fish. </DL>
<A NAME="scalingladder">
<B>scaling ladder,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a ladder for climbing walls. </DL>
<A NAME="scall">
<B>scall, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a scabby eruption, especially on the scalp. </DL>
<B>scallion, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a kind of onion that does not form a large, distinct bulb. <DD><B> 2. </B><B>=shallot.</B> <DD><B> 3. </B><B>=leek.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="scallop">
<B>scallop, </B>noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1a. </B>a shellfish somewhat like a clam. In some kinds the large muscle that opens and closes the shell is good to eat. <DD><B> b. </B>this muscle, used as food. <DD><B> c. </B>one of the two rounded, fanlike, ribbed parts of the shell. <BR> <I>Ex. Pilgrims returning from Palestine formerly wore scallops as a sign of their pilgrimage.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>a small dish or scallop shell, in which fish or other food is baked and served. <DD><B> 3. </B>one of a series of curves on an edge of anything. <BR> <I>Ex. This cuff has scallops.</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to bake with sauce and breadcrumbs in a dish; escallop. <BR> <I>Ex. scalloped oysters, scalloped potatoes.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>to make with a series of curves on. <BR> <I>Ex. She scalloped the edges of the paper with which she covered the shelves.</I> <DD> Also, <B>scollop.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="scalloper">
<B>scalloper, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a person or thing that scallops. <DD><B> 2. </B>a boat used to gather scallops. Also, <B>scolloper.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="scalloping">
<B>scalloping, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>an ornamental edging. <DD><B> 2. </B>the embroidery stitch used in making a variety of such edging. </DL>
<A NAME="scalloppine">
<B>scalloppine</B> or <B>scalloppini, </B>noun pl.<DL COMPACT><DD> thin slices of veal pounded flat and cooked in Marsala wine, sometimes with mushrooms, cheese, or tomato paste. </DL>
<A NAME="scallywag">
<B>scallywag, </B>noun. <B>=scalawag.</B></DL>
<A NAME="scalogram">
<B>scalogram, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a graded series of related questions or problems which become progressively more difficult to answer. Scalograms are used in psychological and other tests to measure the uniformity and consistency of responses. </DL>
<A NAME="scalp">
<B>scalp, </B>noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>the skin and hair on the top and back of the head. <DD><B> 2a. </B>a part of this skin and hair cut off as a token of victory. Some Indians of North America used to collect the scalps of their enemies. <DD><B> b. </B>(Figurative:) <BR> <I>Ex. The angry Chancellor made no bones of the fact he was out to get Dehler's political scalp (Newsweek).</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(Informal.) a small profit made by quickly buying and selling. <DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to cut or tear the scalp from. <BR> <I>Ex. A party of St. Francis Indians ... scalped one of his companions (George Bancroft).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Informal.) <DD><B> a. </B>to buy and sell to make small, quick profits. <DD><B> b. </B>to trade in (as theater tickets or stocks), especially buying at face value and selling at higher prices. <DD><I>v.i. </I> (Informal.) to buy and sell, as theater tickets or stocks, to make small, quick profits. <BR> <I>Ex. A corporation like the Pennsylvania Railroad must protect itself against loss through scalping (Nation).</I> noun <B>scalper.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="scalpdance">
<B>scalp dance,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a ceremonial dance of the American Indians in which the scalps of enemies were used in celebrating a victory. </DL>
<A NAME="scalpel">
<B>scalpel, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a small, straight knife used in surgery and in dissections. </DL>
<A NAME="scalplock">
<B>scalp lock,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a long lock or tuft of hair left on the head (the rest being shaved) by certain North American Indians to show their status as warriors and as a challenge to their enemies. </DL>
<A NAME="scalprum">
<B>scalprum, </B>noun, pl. <B>-pra.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the cutting edge of an incisor tooth. </DL>
<A NAME="scaly">
<B>scaly, </B>adjective, <B>scalier,</B> <B>scaliest.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>covered with scales; having scales like a fish. <BR> <I>Ex. The iron pipe is scaly with rust.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>suggesting scales. <DD><B> 3. </B>consisting of scales or scale. <DD><B> 4. </B>that comes off in scabs. <DD><B> 5. </B>having scale insects; infested with scale. <DD><B> 6. </B>(Slang, Figurative.) mean; shabby; stingy. </DL>
<A NAME="scalyanteater">
<B>scaly anteater</B> or <B>lizard,</B> <B>=pangolin.</B></DL>
<A NAME="scam">
<B>scam, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S. Slang.) a dishonest scheme; swindle. </DL>
<B>scammonic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> derived from scammony. <BR> <I>Ex. a scammonic medicine.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="scammony">
<B>scammony, </B>noun, pl. <B>-nies.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a twining Asiatic plant of the morning-glory family, a variety of convolvulus. <DD><B> 2. </B>a gum resin obtained from its root, used as a purgative. </DL>
<A NAME="scamp">
<B>scamp, </B>noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> a worthless or unprincipled person; rascal; rogue. <BR> <I>Ex. Old Dodd had a scamp of a son who had run away from school (Margaret Kennedy).</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> to do (work) in a hasty, careless manner. <BR> <I>Ex. I will undertake to say he never scamped a job in the whole course of his life (Samuel Butler). The motivations of the novel are scamped in the film (Newsweek).</I> <DD><I>v.i. </I> (U.S.) to be stingy; skimp. noun <B>scamper.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="scamper">
<B>scamper, </B>verb, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.i. </I> <B>1. </B>to run quickly; go hastily. <BR> <I>Ex. The mice scampered when the cat came.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>to run away or decamp. <BR> <I>Ex. The wagoners took each a horse out of his team and scampered (Benjamin Franklin).</I> <DD><I>noun </I> a quick run. <BR> <I>Ex. Let the dog out for a scamper.</I> </DL>
