1) one of the thin pieces of hard material that cover the skin of many fish etc; the chalky deposit inside kettles, water-pipes etc; a simple balance or instrument for weighing by comparing something with a known mass; any machine used for weighing (scale)
when compared (with)
contrasting; corresponding
(an instance of) speculating; (a business deal as a result of) speculating
theory, guess
to give attention and time to learning or discovering (something); to examine (something) carefully
learning, analysis
