BALANCE


Meaning of BALANCE in English

I. ˈba-lən(t)s noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin * bilancia, from Late Latin bilanc-, bilanx having two scalepans, from Latin bi- + lanc-, lanx plate

Date: 13th century

1. : an instrument for weighing: as

a. : a beam that is supported freely in the center and has two pans of equal weight suspended from its ends

b. : a device that uses the elasticity of a spiral spring for measuring weight or force

2. : a means of judging or deciding

3. : a counterbalancing weight, force, or influence

4. : an oscillating wheel operating with a hairspring to regulate the movement of a timepiece

5.

a. : stability produced by even distribution of weight on each side of the vertical axis

b. : equipoise between contrasting, opposing, or interacting elements

c. : equality between the totals of the two sides of an account

6.

a. : an aesthetically pleasing integration of elements

b. : the juxtaposition in writing of syntactically parallel constructions containing similar or contrasting ideas

7.

a. : physical equilibrium

b. : the ability to retain one's balance

8.

a. : weight or force of one side in excess of another

b. : something left over : remainder

c. : an amount in excess especially on the credit side of an account

9. : mental and emotional steadiness

• bal·anced -lən(t)st adjective

- in the balance

- on balance

II. verb

( bal·anced ; bal·anc·ing )

Date: 1588

transitive verb

1.

a.

(1) : to compute the difference between the debits and credits of (an account)

(2) : to pay the amount due on : settle

b.

(1) : to arrange so that one set of elements exactly equals another

balance a mathematical equation

(2) : to complete (a chemical equation) so that the same number of atoms and electric charges of each kind appears on each side

2.

a. : counterbalance , offset

b. : to equal or equalize in weight, number, or proportion

3. : to weigh in or as if in a balance

4.

a. : to bring to a state or position of equipoise

b. : to poise in or as if in balance

c. : to bring into harmony or proportion

intransitive verb

1. : to become balanced or established in balance

2. : to be an equal counterpoise

3. : waver 1

balance s and temporizes on matters that demand action

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.