transcription, транскрипция: [ bæləns ]
( balances, balancing, balanced)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If you balance something somewhere, or if it balances there, it remains steady and does not fall.
I balanced on the ledge...
He balanced a football on his head.
VERB : V prep / adv , V n prep / adv
2.
Balance is the ability to remain steady when you are standing up.
The medicines you are currently taking could be affecting your balance.
N-UNCOUNT
3.
If you balance one thing with something different, each of the things has the same strength or importance.
Balance spicy dishes with mild ones...
The state has got to find some way to balance these two needs...
Supply and demand on the currency market will generally balance.
V-RECIP : V n with n , V pl-n , pl-n V , also V with n
• bal‧anced
This book is a well balanced biography.
ADJ : usu adv ADJ
4.
A balance is a situation in which all the different parts are equal in strength or importance.
Their marriage is a delicate balance between traditional and contemporary values...
...the ecological balance of the forest.
N-SING : with supp , oft N between pl-n
5.
If you say that the balance tips in your favour, you start winning or succeeding, especially in a conflict or contest.
...a powerful new gun which could tip the balance of the war in their favour...
N-SING : the N
6.
If you balance one thing against another, you consider its importance in relation to the other one.
She carefully tried to balance religious sensitivities against democratic freedom.
VERB : V n against n
7.
If someone balances their budget or if a government balances the economy of a country, they make sure that the amount of money that is spent is not greater than the amount that is received.
He balanced his budgets by rigid control over public expenditure.
VERB : V n
8.
If you balance your books or make them balance , you prove by calculation that the amount of money you have received is equal to the amount that you have spent.
...teaching them to balance the books...
To make the books balance, spending must fall and taxes must rise.
VERB : V n , V
9.
The balance in your bank account is the amount of money you have in it.
I’d like to check the balance in my account please.
N-COUNT : usu with supp
10.
The balance of an amount of money is what remains to be paid for something or what remains when part of the amount has been spent.
They were due to pay the balance on delivery.
= remainder
N-SING : the N
11.
see also bank balance
12.
If something hangs in the balance , it is uncertain whether it will happen or continue.
The fate of a project which could revolutionise the use of computers in hospitals hangs in the balance.
PHRASE : PHR after v , v-link PHR
13.
If you keep your balance , for example when standing in a moving vehicle, you remain steady and do not fall over. If you lose your balance , you become unsteady and fall over.
PHRASE : V inflects
14.
If you are off balance , you are in an unsteady position and about to fall.
A gust of wind knocked him off balance and he fell face down in the mud.
PHRASE : PHR after v , v-link PHR
15.
If you are thrown off balance by something, you are surprised or confused by it.
She was trying to behave as if his visit hadn’t thrown her off balance.
PHRASE : PHR after v
16.
You can say on balance to indicate that you are stating an opinion after considering all the relevant facts or arguments.
On balance he agreed with Christine.
PHRASE : PHR with cl