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scale down

B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To make something smaller or less in a careful, organised way.

Literal meaning: To reduce something on a scale proportionally — transparent.

Meanings

1 B2 neutral

To reduce something in size, scope, or scale, especially in a planned and proportional way.

"The architects scaled down the design to fit the smaller site."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 neutral

To reduce a business operation, workforce, or programme, often due to financial pressure.

"The factory scaled down production after demand fell sharply in the third quarter."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 neutral

To create a smaller version of a model, plan, or design while maintaining proportions.

"They built a scaled-down replica of the Eiffel Tower for the theme park."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Used in business, engineering, architecture, and everyday speech. Can apply to physical objects (a scaled-down model) as well as operations and plans. Common in both British and American English.

Commonly used with

operations workforce model version production ambitions

Forms

Base
scale down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scales down
he/she/it
Past simple
scaled down
yesterday
Past participle
scaled down
have + pp
-ing form
scaling down
continuous

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