a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated

an international scale of wind force from 0 (calm air) to 12 (hurricane)

a numerical scale used to compare variables with one another or with some reference number

scale on which actual distances from the origin are proportional to the logarithms of the corresponding scale numbers

a scale formerly used to describe the magnitude of an earthquake; an earthquake detected only by seismographs is a I and an earthquake that destroys all buildings is a XII

a scale of hardness of solids; talc is 0 and diamond is 10; ordering is determined by which substance can scratch another substance