English Explanatory Dictionary

balance

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium.
  2. Mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed.
  3. Something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium; counterweight.
  4. A pair of scales.
  5. Awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity.
  6. The overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.; the influence which ultimately "weighs" more than others.
  7. Apparent harmony in art (between differing colours, sounds, etc.).
  8. A list accounting for the debits on one side, and for the credits on the other.
  9. The result of such a procedure; the difference between credit and debit of an account.
  10. A device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc.
  11. The remainder.
  12. Libra.
verb
  1. To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights.
  2. To make (concepts) agree.
  3. To hold (an object or objects) precariously; to support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling.
  4. To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.
  5. To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally.
  6. To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass.
  7. To make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond.
  8. To be in equilibrium.
  9. To have matching credits and debits.
  10. To weigh in a balance.
  11. To hesitate or fluctuate.
name
  1. The constellation and zodiacal sign Libra.

Pronunciation

/ˈbæləns/ en-us-balance.ogg

Word forms

balance balances balaunce balancing balanced no-table-tags glossary balancest balancedst balanceth the Balance

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Italic *dwi- Latin bi- Latin lanx Latin bilanx Vulgar Latin *bilancia Old French balancebor. Middle English balaunce English balance From Middle English balaunce, from Old French balance, from Late Latin *bilancia, from (accusative form of) Latin bilanx (“two-scaled”), from bi- + lanx (“plate, scale”). Displaced the word — Old English wǣġ akin to Modern English: wey from Proto-West Germanic *wāgu (“scales; weight”).

Synonyms

equilibrium pair of scales set of scales scales weighing machine weighbridge disinterest even-handedness fairness impartiality neutrality nonpartisanship account balance counterbalance equilibrate equilibrize equipoise poise

Antonyms

nonequilibrium imbalance unbalance bias favor favour partiality partisanship prejudice unfairness disequilibrate overbalance overpoise misbalance fall over lose one's balance

Derived words

adjusted trial balance analytical balance balanced scorecard balance of equities balance of payments balance of trade t. b. balance sheet compar. b. s. balance transfer bank balance closing balance credit balance current balance debit balance opening balance trial balance hang in the balance keep one's balance lose one's balance strike a balance throw off balance tip the balance weigh in the balance acro-balance ampere balance balance beam balance bicycle b. bike balance board balance dock balance of nature balance of power balance of probabilities balance of probability balance of terror balance room balance weight b.weight balance wheel basic balance check and balance chemical balance Chinese balance color balance compensation balance detailed balance false balance hydrostatic balance Jolly balance Kelvin balance letter balance mass balance nitrogen balance power balance radiative balance Roberval balance Roman balance spring balance symmetrical balance
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