noun
Common
scales
skaylz
Scales (noun) means a device with two pans used to measure and compare weight. Example: “The statue of justice holds a pair of scales in one hand.”
noun
1
A device with two pans used to measure and compare weight.
"The butcher put the sausages on the scales."
"The statue of justice holds a pair of scales in one hand."
"Old market traders used brass scales with small weights on one pan."
"She weighed the flour on the kitchen scales."
How to use scales
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe plural form used for a weighing instrument, especially the classic two-pan balance.
Common pairings
weigh on the scales
tip the scales
bathroom scales
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Etymology
From Old Norse skáli, "bowl, hut" — referring to the pans of a balance.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for scales
See all rhymes for scales →Frequently asked questions
What does “scales” mean?
The word “scales” means a device with two pans used to measure and compare weight. In plain terms, the plural form used for a weighing instrument, especially the classic two-pan balance.
How do you pronounce “scales”?
“Scales” is pronounced skaylz (/skeɪlz/ in IPA).
How do you use “scales” in a sentence?
Here is “scales” used in a sentence: “She weighed the flour on the kitchen scales.”
What part of speech is “scales”?
“Scales” is a noun.
Where does the word “scales” come from?
The word “scales” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse skáli, "bowl, hut" — referring to the pans of a balance.
Is “scales” a common word?
“Scales” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Is it scale or scales for the weighing device?
British English normally uses the plural: a set of kitchen scales, standing on the bathroom scales. American English usually treats the device as singular: a kitchen scale, a bathroom scale. Both names refer to the same instrument.
Why are scales plural?
The traditional weighing device had two pans hanging from a beam, and each pan was called a scale. The plural scales originally referred to that pair of pans, and the usage survived even after single-platform designs replaced the two-pan type.
What is the difference between scales and a balance?
Both weigh things, and the classic two-pan device can be called either. Balance is the more technical term, used in laboratories for precise instruments that compare a sample against known weights, while scales is the everyday household and shop word.
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