balance Hear it!

balance definition

bal·ance (bal′əns)

noun

  1. an instrument for weighing, esp. one that opposes equal weights, as in two matched shallow pans hanging from either end of a lever supported exactly in the middle; scales
  2. the imaginary scales of fortune or fate, as an emblem of justice or the power to decide
  3. the power or ability to decide
  4. a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equality in amount, weight, value, or importance, as between two things or the parts of a thing
  5. bodily equilibrium or stability he kept his balance on the tightrope
  6. mental or emotional stability
    1. the pleasing harmony of various elements in a design, painting, musical composition, etc.; harmonious proportion
    2. a setting of clauses, phrases, ideas, etc. in parallel constructions for rhetorical effect
  8. a weight, force, effect, etc. that counteracts another or causes equilibrium; counterpoise
  9. the point along an object's length at which there is equilibrium
    in full balance point
    1. equality of debits and credits in an account
    2. the excess of credits over debits or of debits over credits
  11. the amount still owed after a partial settlement
  12. ☆ whatever is left over; remainder
  13. the act of balancing
  14. balance wheel

Etymology: ME & OFr, prob. via ML < VL *bilancia < LL bilanx, having two scales < L bis, twice + lanx, a dish, scale < IE *elek-, extended stem of base *el-, to bend > elbow

transitive verb balanced -·anced, balancing -·anc·ing

  1. to weigh in or as in a balance
  2. to compare as to relative importance, value, etc.
  3. to counterpoise or counteract; make up for; offset
  4. to bring into or keep in a state of equilibrium or equipoise; keep steady; poise to balance oneself on stilts
  5. to bring into proportion, harmony, etc.
  6. to make or be proportionate to; make or be equal to in weight, force, effect, etc.
    1. to find any difference that may exist between the debit and credit sides of (an account); also, to equalize the debit and credit sides of (an account)
    2. to settle (an account) by paying debts
  8. Dancing to move toward and then back from (a partner)

intransitive verb

  1. to be in equilibrium
  2. to be equal in value, weight, etc.
  3. to have the credit and debit sides equal to each other
  4. to waver slightly; tilt and return to equilibrium
  5. Dancing to balance partners

Related Forms:

balance Idioms

in the balance

in a critical, undecided state

on balance

considering everything; all in all

the Balance

Libra, the constellation and seventh sign of the zodiac

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms balance idiom

law balance definition - legal

medical balance definition - medical

balance Synonyms

balance

n.

  1. Whatever remains

    remainder, excess, surplus, amount due; see remainder.

  2. An equilibrium

    equipoise, poise, counterpoise, equilibrium, symmetry, antithesis, offset, equivalence, counterbalance, tension, equalization, equality of weight, parity; see also symmetry.

    Antonyms imbalance*, lopsidedness, topheaviness.

  3. An excess of credits over debits

    credit balance, surplus, dividend, profit, cash on hand, available funds.

  4. A balance scale

    steelyard, spring balance, scales; see scale 3.

  5. Judgment

    perspective, discretion, insight, steadiness; see judgment 1, stability 1, 2. See syn. study at remainder, symmetry.

in the balance

undetermined, undecided, critical; uncertain 2.

off balance

unbalanced, tipsy, eccentric; see irregular 1, 4, unsteady 1.


balance

v.

  1. To offset

    equipoise, counterpoise, counterbalance; see offset.

  2. To place in balance

    poise, oppose, place in equilibrium, steady, stabilize, neutralize, set, level, equalize, support, equilibrate, even, weigh, counteract, make equal, make level, make steady, compensate, tie, adjust, square, nullify, parallel, cancel, coordinate, readjust, equate, trim, match, level off, pair off, restore, attune, harmonize, tune, countervail, accord, correspond.

    Antonyms topple, upset*, turn over. *

  3. To demonstrate that debits and credits are in balance

    estimate, compare, account (for), count, compute, prove, adjust, settle, make up, strike a balance, take a trial balance, tell, audit, calculate, enumerate, equate, square, tally, total, reckon, take stock, sum up; see also check 3.

  4. To compare as to relative importance or value

    weigh, evaluate, ponder; see compare 1, consider 1, 3.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

balance Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • outstanding: Credit losses remained low at 3 % of outstanding balances.

Converse of object

  • redress: Managers may seek to redress the power balance by restricting access to the Internet.

Adjective modifier

  • delicate: Team: Cognition Game title: Environment This game engages the player in understanding the delicate balance of life in the rain forests.

Modifies a noun

  • sheet: Assess the effects of business activity on the balance sheet.

Noun used with modifier

  • work-life: How does your organization ensure a good work-life balance?
balance usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

balance quotes

A false balance is abomination to the L: but a just weight is his delight.

-Bible (Old Testament)

I called the New World into existence, to redress the balance of the Old.

-Canning, George

To write music is to raise a ladder without a wall to lean it against. There is no scaffolding: the building under construction is held in balance only by the miracle of a kind of internal logic, an innate sense of proportion.

-Honegger, Arthur

balance quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"balance." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/balance>

APA Style

balance. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/balance

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment