Refine this word faster
Balance
Definitions
- 1 The constellation and zodiacal sign Libra.
"Libra, or the Balance holdeth in the Navel, the Reins, and the lower parts of the Womb."
- 1 A state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium. uncountable
"But civilized man is quite a different animal, and when he wipes out an entire city or levels a forest, he is no longer working within the natural balance of things."
- 2 a scale for weighing; depends on pull of gravity wordnet
- 3 Mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed. uncountable
- 4 a wheel that regulates the rate of movement in a machine; especially a wheel oscillating against the hairspring of a timepiece to regulate its beat wordnet
- 5 Something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium; counterweight. countable, figuratively, literally, uncountable
"These weights are used as a balance for the overhanging verandah."
Show 18 more definitions
- 6 a weight that balances another weight wordnet
- 7 A pair of scales. countable, uncountable
- 8 (mathematics) an attribute of a shape or relation; exact reflection of form on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane wordnet
- 9 Awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity. uncountable
- 10 harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole (as in a design) wordnet
- 11 The overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.; the influence which ultimately "weighs" more than others. uncountable
"The balance of power finally lay with the Royalist forces."
- 12 (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Libra wordnet
- 13 Apparent harmony in art (between differing colours, sounds, etc.). uncountable
- 14 equality between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account wordnet
- 15 A list accounting for the debits on one side, and for the credits on the other. countable, uncountable
- 16 the difference between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account wordnet
- 17 The result of such a procedure; the difference between credit and debit of an account. countable, uncountable
"I just need to nip to a bank and check my balance."
- 18 something left after other parts have been taken away wordnet
- 19 A device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc. countable, uncountable
- 20 equality of distribution wordnet
- 21 The remainder. countable, uncountable
"The balance of the agreement remains in effect."
- 22 a state of equilibrium wordnet
- 23 Libra. countable, obsolete, uncountable
- 1 To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights. transitive
- 2 hold or carry in equilibrium wordnet
- 3 To make (concepts) agree. figuratively, transitive
"the Proteus Principle helps to qualify and balance the concepts of narrators and of narrative situations as previously developed in classical studies by G erard Genette and Franz Stanzel."
- 4 compute credits and debits of an account wordnet
- 5 To hold (an object or objects) precariously; to support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling. transitive
"I balanced my mug of coffee on my knee."
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 bring into balance or equilibrium wordnet
- 7 To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate. transitive
"Ballance the Good and Evil of Things."
- 8 be in equilibrium wordnet
- 9 To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally. transitive
"to balance partners"
- 10 To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass.
"to balance the boom mainsail"
- 11 To make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond. transitive
"to balance a set of books"
- 12 To be in equilibrium. intransitive
- 13 To have matching credits and debits. intransitive
- 14 To weigh in a balance. obsolete, transitive
- 15 To hesitate or fluctuate. intransitive, obsolete
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”).
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”).
Calque of Latin Libra.
See also for "balance"
Next best steps
Mini challenge
Unscramble this word: balance