| Celsius scale | A temperature scale that is based upon the triple point of water (defined to be 273.16 K) and assigned the value of 0.01캜; this has replaced the centigrade scale because the triple point of water can be more accurately measured than the ice point; although, for most practical purposes, the two scales are equivalent. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| centigrade scale | A thermometer scale in which there are 100 degrees between the freezing point of water (assigned the value of 0.0캜) and the boiling point of water at sea level; technically, supplanted by the Celsius scale. Compare: Celsius scale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Charriere scale | A scale for grading sizes of sounds, tubules, and catheters as based on a measurement of 1/3 mm and equaling 1 fr on the scale (e.g., 3 fr = 1 mm); grading to scale is carried out using a metal plate with holes ranging from 1/3 mm to 1 cm in diameter. Synonym: Charriere scale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gray scale | <microscopy> The various shades of gray or luminance values in a video picture. As industrial test standards, gray wedges are used with discrete steps incrementing in brightness by factors of ~ 7. 3 (05 Aug 1998) |
| gray-scale ultrasonography | The display of the ultrasound echo amplitude or signal intensity as different shades of gray, improving image quality compared to the obsolete black and white presentation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gunter's scale | A scale invented by the Rev. Edmund Gunter (1581-1626), a professor of astronomy at Gresham College, London, who invented also Gunter's chain, and Gunter's quadrant. Gunter's scale is a wooden rule, two feet long, on one side of which are marked scales of equal parts, of chords, sines, tangents, rhombs, etc, and on the other side scales of logarithms of these various parts, by means of which many problems in surveying and navigation may be solved, mechanically, by the aid of dividers alone. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Michel Levy scale of retardation colours | <microscopy> Colour chart plotting thickness of the anisotropic specimen, its birefringence (n1-n2) and its retardation in nanometres. Any one of the three variables can be determined if the other two are known. (05 Aug 1998) |
| pH scale | The negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration, used as a scale for expressing acidity and alkalinity. See: pH. Synonym: pH scale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Mohs scale | A qualitative scale in which minerals are classified in order of their increasing hardness, based on the fact that the harder of two materials will scratch the softer and will not be scratched by it. The scale lists 15 substances: 1, talc; 2, gypsum; 3, calcite; 4, fluorite; 5, apatite; 6, orthoclase, periclase; 7, vitreous pure silica; 8, quartz, stellite; 9, topaz; 10, garnet; 11, tantalum carbide, fused zirconia; 12, fused alumina; 13, silicon carbide; 14, boron carbide; 15, diamond. Synonym: Mohs scale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pilot scale | The size of a system between the small laboratory model size (bench scale) and a full-size system. (05 Dec 1998) |
| Wechsler-Bellevue scale | A measure of general intelligence superseded by the Wechsler adult intelligence scale and its subsequent revision. See: Wechsler intelligence scales. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Columbia Mental Maturity Scale | An individually administered intelligence test that provides an estimate of the intellectual ability of children; provides mental ages ranging from 3 to 12 years, and requires no verbal response and minimal motor response. Origin: Columbia University, NY (05 Mar 2000) |
| coma scale | A clinical scale to assess impaired consciousness; assessment may include motor responsiveness, verbal performance, and eye opening, as in the Glasgow (Scotland) c.s., or the same three items and dysfunction of cranial nerves, as in the Maryland (U.S.) c.s. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hardness scale | A qualitative scale in which minerals are classified in order of their increasing hardness, based on the fact that the harder of two materials will scratch the softer and will not be scratched by it. The scale lists 15 substances: 1, talc; 2, gypsum; 3, calcite; 4, fluorite; 5, apatite; 6, orthoclase, periclase; 7, vitreous pure silica; 8, quartz, stellite; 9, topaz; 10, garnet; 11, tantalum carbide, fused zirconia; 12, fused alumina; 13, silicon carbide; 14, boron carbide; 15, diamond. Synonym: Mohs scale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| scale | A reduced or rudimentary leaf, for example surrounding a dormant bud, a thin flap of tissue, for example on the ventral surface of a liverwort thallus and at the base of a stamen in members of the family Simaroubaceae. (09 Oct 1997) |