COUNTERBALANCE


Meaning of COUNTERBALANCE in English

verb , noun

■ verb

/ ˌkaʊntəˈbæləns; NAmE ˌkaʊntərˈb-/ [ vn ] ( formal ) to have an equal but opposite effect to sth else

SYN offset :

Parents' natural desire to protect their children should be counterbalanced by the child's need for independence.

■ noun

/ˈkaʊntəbæləns; NAmE ˈkaʊntərb-/ (also coun·ter·weight ) [ usually sing. ] counterbalance (to sth) a thing that has an equal but opposite effect to sth else and can be used to limit the bad effects of sth :

The accused's right to silence was a vital counterbalance to the powers of the police.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.