poise 1
/poyz/ , n. , v. , poised, poising .
n.
1. a state of balance or equilibrium, as from equality or equal distribution of weight; equipoise.
2. a dignified, self-confident manner or bearing; composure; self-possession: to show poise in company.
3. steadiness; stability: intellectual poise.
4. suspense or wavering, as between rest and motion or two phases of motion: the poise of the tides.
5. the way of being poised, held, or carried.
6. the state or position of hovering: the poise of a bird in the air.
v.t.
7. to adjust, hold, or carry in equilibrium; balance evenly.
8. to hold supported or raised, as in position for casting, using, etc.: to poise a spear.
9. to hold or carry in a particular manner: She walked, carefully poising a water jug on her head.
10. Obs. to weigh.
v.i.
11. to rest in equilibrium; be balanced.
12. to hover, as a bird in the air.
[ 1350-1400; (n.) ME pois ( e ) weight poids ) pensum, n. use of neut. ptp. of L pendere to weigh; (v.) ME poisen to weigh poiser, var., based on tonic s., of peser pensare, freq. of pendere ]
Syn. 2. self-assurance; polish, grace, refinement.
Ant. 1, 3. instability.
poise 2
/pwahz/ , n. Physics.
a centimeter-gram-second unit of viscosity, equal to the viscosity of a fluid in which a stress of one dyne per square centimeter is required to maintain a difference of velocity of one centimeter per second between two parallel planes in the fluid that lie in the direction of flow and are separated by a distance of one centimeter. Symbol: P
[ 1910-15; Poiseuille (1799-1869), French physician ]