English Reference

Word

scaling

Phoneticsscal·ing

US/ˈskeɪɫɪŋ/

UK/skˈeɪlɪŋ/

Definitions

01adjusting size or data

B2 · Math

n. changing the size or level of something to make it fit a new situation.

n. the process of adjusting dimensions or data values to fit a specific scale or distribution.

“The scaling of the test results ensured that the average grade was a B.”

“The algorithm handles the scaling of input data automatically to ensure that no single variable dominates the final statistical model.”

Academic

Usage

Often used in computing and statistics regarding data normalization.

02measuring

B2

n. the act of measuring the size or weight of something using a scale.

n. the measurement of dimensions, weight, or proportions using a graduated scale.

“Careful scaling of the ingredients is necessary for the experiment to work.”

“The precise scaling of the architectural model allowed the clients to visualize the building's impact on the surrounding skyline.”

03removing surface layers

C1 · Medicine

n. removing a hard layer from a surface, like cleaning teeth or preparing fish.

n. the removal of a hard coating or encrustation from a surface.

“The dentist recommended a deep scaling to remove the plaque from his teeth.”

“Industrial scaling of the boiler pipes was required to remove the mineral deposits that were reducing the system's thermal efficiency.”

Technical

Teaching tip

In a medical context, this almost always refers to dental hygiene.

Synonyms

04climbing or increasing

B2

v. climbing up something high or increasing the size of a business.

v. the act of climbing a steep surface or increasing the capacity of a system.

“Scaling the mountain took the team nearly six hours in the snow.”

“The startup is currently scaling its operations to meet the unexpected surge in demand from the European market.”

Usage

Commonly used as a gerund or present participle of the verb 'scale'.

Real-World Examples

“There are more than two million robots working in China's factories - and they are scaling up fast.”
BBC News · 24 Aug 2026

Collocations

scaling backscaling up assistance

Word family

Domains

MathematicsPhysics

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

English Reference