Word Frequency
balance (ˈbæləns
)
Definitions
noun
- a weighing device, generally consisting of a horizontal beam pivoted at its centre, from the ends of which two pans are suspended. The substance to be weighed is placed in one pan and known weights are placed in the other until the beam returns to the horizontal See also microbalance
- an imagined device for assessing events, actions, motives, etc, in relation to each other (esp in the phrases weigh in the balance, hang in the balance)
- a state of equilibrium
- something that brings about such a state
- equilibrium of the body; steadiness ⇒
to lose one's balance
- emotional stability; calmness of mind
- harmony in the parts of a whole ⇒
balance in an artistic composition
- the act of weighing factors, quantities, etc, against each other
- the power to influence or control ⇒
he held the balance of power
- something that remains or is left ⇒
let me have the balance of what you owe me
- (accounting)
- equality of debit and credit totals in an account
- a difference between such totals
- (chemistry) the state of a chemical equation in which the number, kind, electrical charges, etc, of the atoms on opposite sides are equal
- a balancing movement
- short for spring balance
-
See in the balance
-
See on balance
-
See strike a balance
verb
- tr to weigh in or as if in a balance
- intr to be or come into equilibrium
- tr to bring into or hold in equilibrium
- tr to assess or compare the relative weight, importance, etc, of
- tr to act so as to equalize; be equal to
- tr to compose or arrange so as to create a state of harmony
- tr to bring (a chemical or mathematical equation) into balance
- tr (accounting)
- to compute the credit and debit totals of (an account) in order to determine the difference
- to equalize the credit and debit totals of (an account) by making certain entries
- to settle or adjust (an account) by paying any money due
- intr (of a business account, balance sheet, etc) to have the debit and credit totals equal
- to match or counter (one's dancing partner or his or her steps) by moving towards and away from him or her
Derived Forms
ˈbalanceable adjectiveWord Origin
C13: from Old French, from Vulgar Latin bilancia (unattested), from Late Latin bilanx having two scalepans, from bi-1 + lanx scaleSynonyms
View thesaurus entry = offset, match, square, make up for, compensate for, counteract, neutralize, counterbalance, even up, equalize, counterpoise
= calculate, rate, judge, total, determine, estimate, settle, count, square, reckon, work out, compute, gauge, tally
= scales
= composure, stability, restraint, self-control, poise, self-discipline, coolness, calmness, equanimity, self-restraint, steadiness, self-possession, self-mastery, strength of mind or will
Translations for 'balance'
- British English: balance Balance is the steadiness that someone or something has when they are standing or resting on something.He lost his balance as his foot slipped on the ice.ˈbæləns NOUN
- Arabic: تَوَازُن
- Brazilian Portuguese: equilíbrio
- Chinese: 平衡
- Croatian: ravnoteža
- Czech: rovnováha
- Danish: balance
- Dutch: evenwicht
- European Spanish: equilibrio
- Finnish: tasapaino
- French: équilibre
- German: Gleichgewicht
- Greek: ισορροπία
- Italian: equilibrio
- Japanese: バランス
- Korean: 균형
- Norwegian: stabilitetsteadiness
- Polish: równowaga
- Portuguese: equilíbrio
- Romanian: echilibru echilibru, echilibre
- Russian: равновесиеa weighing device
- Spanish: equilibrio
- Swedish: balans
- Thai: ความสมดุล
- Turkish: dengefizik
- Ukrainian: баланс
- Vietnamese: sự cân bằng
- British English: balance If you balance something somewhere, or if it balances there, it remains steady and does not fall. VERBI balanced on the ledge.
- Brazilian Portuguese: equilibrar(-se)
- Chinese: 使平衡
- European Spanish: mantener el equilibrio
- French: tenir en équilibre
- German: balancieren
- Italian: stare in equilibrio
- Japanese: 均衡をとる
- Korean: 균형 잡다
- Portuguese: equilibrar(-se)
- Spanish: equilibrar
Example Sentences Including 'balance'
Devolution thus restores the democratic balance sheet undermined by successive landslides.Glasgow Herald (2001)
I think the players from Africa, Asia and Australia would more than balance those from Latin America and Canada.Glasgow Herald (2001)
Something hit her and the force of the blow knocked her off balance.LOST SUMMER (2002)
The Curry Report on the future of food and farming in Britain recommended that this balance be addressed.Country Life (2004)
The choice of the latter would "cut across the balance " laid down in the agreement which already has a variety of cross-Border bodies.Irish Times (2002)
The man gasped, then stooped, pulling the other two off balance.CHAMELEON (2002)
They hadn't deserved to die like that just for ripping off a few big companies who would barely notice the hole in their balance sheets.DEAD BEAT (2002)
We were drawn up in a tight group and I didn't want to be jostled off balance.TUNNEL VISIONS: Journeys of an Underground Philosopher (2001)
With much less effort we have, today, the power to irreversibly alter the balance of nature.Irish Times (2002)
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