Which definition best matches the verb sense of scale?

• A. To climb a surface that is steep
• B. To set something according to a scale or measure something by a scale
• C. To remove something in layers or scales
• D. To flatten a surface

Answer: (C)

Scale as a verb has a couple of common meanings. One is to climb or ascend something, like scale a wall. Another is to remove the scales from something, such as when you descale a fish, which involves peeling away the outer scale layers. The option that describes removing something in layers or scales matches that second sense, capturing the act of descaling. The other senses—climbing a steeper surface, calibrating or measuring against a scale, or making a surface flat—are different uses of scale and aren’t what this item is targeting.