échelles

Échelles is the plural form of échelle in French, a word with several related meanings. In its most common senses, échelle denotes a ladder or a stepped instrument used for climbing, and a scale or graduated series used for measurement or categorization. The term can also refer to a framework of levels or steps in a process, a concept often described by phrases such as échelle sociale (social ladder) or échelle des prix (price range).

Etymology and forms: Échelle comes from Old French eschelle, eschelle, which derives from Latin scala, meaning staircase or ladder. The word has given rise to a wide range of compound expressions in French, including échelle graduée (graduated scale), échelle de mesure (measurement scale), and échelle de temps (timeline or time scale).

Usage and contexts: As a physical object, une échelle is used for climbing and access, with forms including portable ladders and fixed ladders. As a measuring tool, an échelle describes a marked sequence, such as temperature scales, Richter scale equivalents in French usage (échelle de Richter), and other graduated indicators. Figuratively, échelle conveys levels or stages in various domains, from economics and sociology to project planning.

Variations and related terms: In some contexts, the term échelle is complemented by adjectives to specify the type of scale, such as échelle graduée or échelle logarithmique. The related noun échelon denotes a rung or step within a sequence or organization, while expressions like à grande échelle or à petite échelle describe scale in a broader sense.

See also: échelle de Jacob (Jacob's ladder), échelle de température, échelon.