balance

Plural: balances

Noun

• a state of equilibrium
• equality between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account
• harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole (as in a design); - John Ruskin
  • "in all perfectly beautiful objects there is found the opposition of one part to another and a reciprocal balance"
• equality of distribution
• something left after other parts have been taken away
  • "he took what he wanted and I got the balance"
• the difference between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account
• (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Libra
• the seventh sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about September 23 to October 22
• (mathematics) an attribute of a shape or relation; exact reflection of form on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane
• a weight that balances another weight
• a wheel that regulates the rate of movement in a machine; especially a wheel oscillating against the hairspring of a timepiece to regulate its beat
• a scale for weighing; depends on pull of gravity
• A state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium.
• Mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed.
• Something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium; counterweight.
• A pair of scales.
• Awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity.
• The overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.; the influence which ultimately "weighs" more than others.
• 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 difference between credit and debit of an account.
• A device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc.
• The remainder.
• Libra.

Verb

Verb Forms: balanced, balancing, balances

• To keep or put something in a steady, even position.
• bring into balance or equilibrium
  • "She has to balance work and her domestic duties"
  • "balance the two weights"
• compute credits and debits of an account
• hold or carry in equilibrium
• be in equilibrium
• To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights.
• To make (concepts) agree.
• To hold (an object or objects) precariously; to support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling.
• To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.
• To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally.
• To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass.
• To make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond.
• To be in equilibrium.
• To have matching credits and debits.
• To weigh in a balance.
• To hesitate or fluctuate.

Examples

• Balance Luzon
• Blair thought he could provide a useful balance to Bush's policies.
• I balanced my mug of coffee on my knee.
• I just need to nip to a bank and check my balance.
• I think the balance of opinion is that we should get out while we're ahead.
• The balance of power finally lay with the Royalist forces.
• The balance of the agreement remains in effect.
• The circus performer balances a plate on the end of a baton.
• The invoice said he had only paid $50. The balance was $220.
• These weights are used as a balance for the overhanging verandah.
• This final payment, or credit, balances the account.
• to balance a set of books
• to balance partners
• to balance the boom mainsail
• You must balance offensive scoring with defensive tile placement.

Synonyms

balance wheel, correspondence, counterbalance, counterpoise, counterweight, equaliser, equalizer, equilibrate, equilibrise, equilibrium, equilibrize, equipoise, Libra, Libra the Balance, Libra the Scales, poise, proportion, proportionality, remainder, residual, residue, residuum, rest, symmetricalness, symmetry, account, balance, disinterest, even-handedness, fairness, impartiality, neutrality, nonpartisanship, pair of scales, scales, set of scales, weighbridge, weighing machine

Antonyms

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

Anagrams of balance