balance
nounEtymology
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”).
- derived from bilanx
- derived from *bilancia✻
- derived from balance
- derived from balaunce
Definitions
A state in which opposing forces harmonise
A state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium.
- But civilized man is quite a different animal, and when he wipes out an entire city or levels a forest, he is no longer working within the natural balance of things.
Mental equilibrium
Mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed.
Something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium
Something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium; counterweight.
- These weights are used as a balance for the overhanging verandah.
- Blair thought he could provide a useful balance to Bush's policies.
›+ 21 more definitionsshow fewer
A pair of scales.
Awareness of both viewpoints or matters
Awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity.
The overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.
The overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.; the influence which ultimately "weighs" more than others.
- The balance of power finally lay with the Royalist forces.
- I think the balance of opinion is that we should get out while we're ahead.
- The shift in the balance of power online has allowed anyone to publish to the world, from dispirited teenagers in south London to an anonymous cyber-dissident in a Middle East autocracy.
Apparent harmony in art (between differing colours, sounds, etc.).
A list accounting for the debits on one side, and for the credits on the other.
The result of such a procedure
The result of such a procedure; the difference between credit and debit of an account.
- I just need to nip to a bank and check my balance.
A device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc.
The remainder.
- The balance of the agreement remains in effect.
- The invoice said he had only paid $50. The balance was $220.
- Balance Luzon
Libra.
To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights.
To make (concepts) agree.
- the Proteus Principle helps to qualify and balance the concepts of narrators and of narrative situations as previously developed in classical studies by G erard Genette and Franz Stanzel.
To hold (an object or objects) precariously
To hold (an object or objects) precariously; to support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling.
- I balanced my mug of coffee on my knee.
- The circus performer balances a plate on the end of a baton.
To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.
To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.
- Ballance the Good and Evil of Things.
- Mr. Morrison's ruling to reopen the station as a shelter was given after he had balanced the relative dangers of flooding and bombing.
To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally.
- to balance partners
To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass.
- to balance the boom mainsail
To make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond.
- to balance a set of books
- This final payment, or credit, balances the account.
- I am very well satisfied that it is not in my power to balance accounts with my Maker.
To be in equilibrium.
To have matching credits and debits.
To weigh in a balance.
To hesitate or fluctuate.
The constellation and zodiacal sign Libra.
- Libra, or the Balance holdeth in the Navel, the Reins, and the lower parts of the Womb.
- The Balance shows redemption’s need; The Scorpion wounds He must endure; The Archer tells His coming sure; The Goat, His death in sacrifice[.]
The neighborhood
- synonymbalance
- synonymcounterbalance
- synonymequilibrate
- synonymequilibrize
- synonymequipoise
- synonympoise
- antonymnonequilibriumantonym(s) of “equilibrium”
- antonymimbalanceantonym(s) of “equilibrium”
- antonymunbalanceantonym(s) of “equilibrium”
- antonymbiasantonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”
- antonymfavorantonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”
- antonymfavourantonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”
- antonympartialityantonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”
- antonympartisanshipantonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”
- antonymprejudiceantonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”
- antonymunfairnessantonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”
- antonymdisequilibrate
- antonymoverbalance
- neighborequiponderate
Derived
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, balanceable, balanced → unb—d, imb—d, balancement, balance out, balancer, balance the books, balance the sheets, balance the ticket, balancing act, check and balance, counterbalance, disbalance, misbalance, outbalance, overbalance · +3 more
Vish — recursive loop
A definitional loop anchored at balance. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.
A definitional loop anchored at balance. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.
10 hops · closes at balance
curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA