INDEX:
1. to remain steady and not fall
2. to make something balance on a point or surface
3. the ability to remain steady and not fall
4. to become unsteady and start to fall
5. unsteady and likely to fall
6. feeling unsteady and unable to balance
RELATED WORDS
to make two things equal : ↑ EQUAL/NOT EQUAL (5)
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1. to remain steady and not fall
▷ balance /ˈbæləns/ [intransitive verb]
to remain steady and not fall, especially when this is difficult to do :
▪ The beam is very narrow - you may find it difficult to balance.
balance on
▪ Balancing awkwardly on one leg, he lowered himself into his wheelchair.
balance precariously
balance in a very dangerous position
▪ An angel was balancing precariously on top of the Christmas tree.
▷ keep your balance /ˌkiːp jɔːʳ ˈbæləns/ [verb phrase]
to manage to remain steady and not fall, especially when something happens to nearly make you fall :
▪ The horse tried to throw her off but she managed to keep her balance.
▪ It’s hard enough just keeping my balance on ice, let alone actually skating on it.
▷ steady /ˈstedi/ [adjective]
completely balanced so that there is no chance of falling :
▪ She held on to hand rails to keep herself steady.
▪ We need a steady platform above the waves before we can start drilling.
2. to make something balance on a point or surface
▷ balance /ˈbæləns/ [transitive verb]
▪ Balancing my cup of coffee in one hand, I managed to open the door.
balance something on something
▪ His favourite party trick is balancing tin cans on his head.
▪ We tried to balance the aerial on top of the TV set, but it kept falling over.
▷ steady /ˈstedi/ [transitive verb]
to make something or someone become balanced again, especially when they were falling over :
▪ When she looked as though she was going to fall, Eddie’s arm immediately went out to steady her.
▪ He stood up, holding on to the desk to steady himself.
3. the ability to remain steady and not fall
▷ balance /ˈbæləns/ [uncountable noun]
▪ A walking stick is good for balance on rough trails.
sense of balance
▪ You need a great sense of balance to be an acrobat.
4. to become unsteady and start to fall
▷ lose your balance /ˌluːz jɔːʳ ˈbæləns/ [verb phrase]
to suddenly become unsteady and start to fall :
▪ Put your arms out to the side so that you don’t lose your balance.
▪ She ran after the dog, lost her balance, and fell flat on her face.
▷ totter/teeter /ˈtɒtəʳǁˈtɑː-, ˈtiːtəʳ/ [intransitive verb]
if someone or something totters or teeters they move unsteadily from side to side and look as if they are going to fall :
▪ I could feel the tray tottering and suddenly all the drinks crashed to the floor.
▪ His chair teetered back dangerously on two legs.
▷ wobble /ˈwɒb ə lǁˈwɑː-/ [intransitive verb]
to move unsteadily from side to side :
▪ She bumped the table and the glasses wobbled.
▪ ‘Who could that be?’ the old man said as he wobbled toward the door.
5. unsteady and likely to fall
▷ unsteady /ʌnˈstedi/ [adjective]
someone who is unsteady is unable to balance properly, for example because of illness, old age or too much alcohol :
▪ For a few moments he was pale and unsteady but his colour gradually returned.
▪ He walked with the unsteady gait of an old man.
unsteady on your feet
▪ She’ll be a little unsteady on her feet until the anaesthetic wears off.
unsteadily [adverb]
▪ She moved unsteadily towards the table, everyone expecting her to fall into a drunken heap.
▷ unstable /ʌnˈsteɪb ə l/ [adjective]
something that is unstable is unsteady because it is too big for the thing supporting it or not properly fastened to something, so that it is dangerous :
▪ That scaffolding looks unstable - get all the building workers off the site immediately.
▷ precarious /prɪˈke ə riəs/ [adjective]
not safe and likely to fall down - use this especially about things or people that are in high places :
▪ The bottle was in a precarious position on the edge of the table.
▪ Are you sure he’s safe on that ladder? It looks very precarious up there.
precariously [adverb]
▪ When we found the girl she was perched precariously on the window ledge, twelve floors up.
6. feeling unsteady and unable to balance
▷ dizzy /ˈdɪzi/ [adjective not before noun]
feeling as if everything is spinning around you and unable to balance :
▪ Sometimes I get dizzy at the top of staircases and escalators.
▪ If you feel dizzy or short of breath, stop exercising immediately.
dizziness [uncountable noun]
▪ A fall in glucose levels results in nausea, dizziness, and faintness.
▷ giddy /ˈgɪdi/ [adjective]
feeling unsteady and unable to balance, sometimes with the result that you want to be sick :
▪ She suddenly felt giddy and had to find somewhere to sit down.
▷ somebody’s head is swimming / somebodyˈs ˈhed ɪz ˌswɪmɪŋ/
if someone’s head is swimming they feel unsteady, unable to see properly, and as though the room is spinning around them very quickly, for example because they are ill or drunk :
▪ My head was swimming, and the floor seemed to be moving up and down.