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Glite Dictionary
spring scale

spring scale

4.3
A small tool that measures weight or force by how much a metal coil stretches
  • noun
  • /sprɪŋ skeɪl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : balanza de resorte
  • In the science lab, students used a spring scale to find the weight of different fruits.

Examples

  • Calibration of the load cells was done using a spring scale.

    Academic text (1992)

  • A spring scale is used to measure the weight of objects by the tension of a helical spring.

  • To determine how much your backpack weighs, attach it to a spring scale and read the measurement.

Synonyms

spring balance
vsspring scale
  • Specialized
6.0

A tool that measures weight using a metal spring and shows it on a scale

also measures other forces in addition to weight

How Sensitive

analytical balance
  • Specialized
6.7
spring scale
  • Specialized
4.3
scale
191 2.8

Surface Forms

spring scale singular
spring scales plural

Morphology

spring + scale

The noun phrase 'spring scale' is directly compositional: 'spring' (a coiled metal part) modifies 'scale' (an instrument for measuring), so it denotes a scale that uses a spring to measure weight or force. This noun–noun compounding is a regular, cross-linguistically common pattern in English, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Spring scale is named for a simple image: a metal spring that stretches when you hang something on it and a scale that shows how far it stretches. So, the more the spring stretches, the higher the reading, and the tool measures 'weight'.