balance

Meaning

Noun

1. (uncountable) A state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium.
2. (uncountable) Mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed.
3. (countable, figuratively, literally, uncountable) Something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium; counterweight.
4. (countable, uncountable) A pair of scales.
5. (uncountable) Awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity.
6. (uncountable) The overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.; the influence which ultimately "weighs" more than others.
7. (uncountable) Apparent harmony in art (between differing colours, sounds, etc.).
8. (countable, uncountable) A list accounting for the debits on one side, and for the credits on the other.
9. (countable, uncountable) The result of such a procedure; the difference between credit and debit of an account.
10. (countable, uncountable) A device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc.
11. (countable, uncountable) The remainder.
12. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Libra.

Verb

1. (transitive) To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights.
2. (figuratively, transitive) To make (concepts) agree.
3. (transitive) To hold (an object or objects) precariously; to support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling.
4. (transitive) To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.
5. (transitive) To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally.
6. To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass.
7. (transitive) To make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond.
8. (intransitive) To be in equilibrium.
9. (intransitive) To have matching credits and debits.
10. (obsolete, transitive) To weigh in a balance.
11. (intransitive, obsolete) To hesitate or fluctuate.

Synonyms

equilibrium

scales

remainder

scale

poise

counterbalance

equilibrate

equipoise

counterpoise

steelyard

surplus

weigh

pair of scales

weighing machine

symmetry

proportion

equality

residue

rest

balance sheet

make equal

arrears

offset

on balance

residual

remnant

residuum

reconcile

weight

counterweight

balance wheel

level

equilibrise

equilibrize

difference

gravity

equivalence

even up

tally

equalize

equalization

equaliser

equalizer

bars

remains

compensate

balance-sheet

proportionality

add up

oscillate

Translations

équilibre

balance

equilibrio

equilibrio

Gleichgewicht

bilancia

Waage

solde

Saldo

Bilanz

équilibrer

Balance

equilíbrio

balans

balanza

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbæləns/

Etymology

From Middle English balaunce, from Old French balance, from Late Latin *bilancia, from (accusative form of) Latin bilanx (“two-scaled”), from bi- + lanx (“plate, scale”).
Displaced the word — Old English wǣġ akin to Modern English: wey from Proto-West Germanic *wāgu (“scales; weight”).