Lexic.us

Definition of Balance

1. Verb. Bring into balance or equilibrium. "Balance the two weights"

2. Noun. A state of equilibrium.

3. Verb. Compute credits and debits of an account.

4. Noun. Equality between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account.

5. Verb. Hold or carry in equilibrium.

6. Noun. Harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole (as in a design). "In all perfectly beautiful objects there is found the opposition of one part to another and a reciprocal balance"

7. Verb. Be in equilibrium. "There balance some children in the rocking chair"; "He was balancing on one foot"

8. Noun. Equality of distribution.

9. Noun. Something left after other parts have been taken away. "He took what he wanted and I got the balance"

10. Noun. The difference between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account.

11. Noun. (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Libra.

12. Noun. The seventh sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about September 23 to October 22.

13. Noun. (mathematics) an attribute of a shape or relation; exact reflection of form on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane.

14. Noun. A weight that balances another weight.

15. Noun. 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.

16. Noun. A scale for weighing; depends on pull of gravity.

Definition of Balance

1. n. An apparatus for weighing.

2. v. t. To bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights; to weigh in a balance.

3. v. i. To have equal weight on each side; to be in equipoise; as, the scales balance.

Definition of Balance

1. Noun. a state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium ¹

2. Noun. mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed ¹

3. Noun. something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium (literally or figuratively); counterweight ¹

4. Noun. a pair of scales ¹

5. Noun. awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity ¹

6. Noun. the overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.; the influence which ultimately "weighs" more than others ¹

7. Noun. apparent harmony in art (between differing colours, sounds, etc.) ¹

8. Noun. (accounting) a list accounting for the debits on one side, and for the credits on the other. ¹

9. Noun. (accounting) the result of such a procedure; the difference between credit and debit of an account. ¹

10. Noun. (context: watchmaking) a device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc. ¹

11. Noun. (obsolete astrology) Libra ¹

12. Verb. (transitive) to make (items) weigh up. ¹

13. Verb. (transitive) (''figurative'') to make (concepts) agree. ¹

14. Verb. (transitive) to hold (an object or objects) precariously. ¹

15. Verb. (transitive) to make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond. ¹

16. Verb. (intransitive) to be in equilibrium. ¹

17. Verb. (intransitive) to have matching credits and debits. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Balance

1. to weigh [v -ANCED, -ANCING, -ANCES] - See also: weigh

Medical Definition of Balance

1. 1. An apparatus for weighing. In its simplest form, a balance consists of a beam or lever supported exactly in the middle, having two scales or basins of equal weight suspended from its extremities. Another form is that of the Roman balance, our steelyard, consisting of a lever or beam, suspended near one of its extremities, on the longer arm of which a counterpoise slides. The name is also given to other forms of apparatus for weighing bodies, as to the combinations of levers making up platform scales; and even to devices for weighing by the elasticity of a spring. 2. Act of weighing mentally; comparison; estimate. "A fair balance of the advantages on either side." (Atterbury) 3. Equipoise between the weights in opposite scales. 4. The state of being in equipoise; equilibrium; even adjustment; steadiness. "And hung a bottle on each side To make his balance true." (Cowper) "The order and balance of the country were destroyed." (Buckle) "English workmen completely lose their balance." (J. S. Mill) 5. An equality between the sums total of the two sides of an account; as, to bring one's accounts to a balance; also, the excess on either side; as, the balance of an account. " A balance at the banker's. " "I still think the balance of probabilities leans towards the account given in the text." (J. Peile) 6. A balance wheel, as of a watch, or clock. See Balance wheel (in the Vocabulary). 7. The constellation Libra. The seventh sign in the Zodiac, called Libra, which the sun enters at the equinox in September. 8. A movement in dancing. See Balance, S. Balance electrometer, a kind of balance, with a poised beam, which indicates, by weights suspended from one arm, the mutual attraction of oppositely electrified surfaces. Balance fish. An equilibrium between the money values of the exports and imports of a country; or more commonly, the amount required on one side or the other to make such an equilibrium. Balance valve, a valve whose surfaces are so arranged that the fluid pressure tending to seat, and that tending to unseat the valve, are nearly in equilibrium; especially, a puppet valve which is made to operate easily by the admission of steam to both sides. See Puppet valve. Hydrostatic balance. See Hydrostatic. To lay in balance, to put up as a pledge or security. To strike a balance, to find out the difference between the debit and credit sides of an account. Origin: OE. Balaunce, F. Balance, fr. L. Bilan, bilancis, having two scales; bis twice (akin to E. Two) + lanx plate, scale. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Balance

balaam balachong balaclava balaclava helmet balaclavas baladin baladine baladines baladins balaenoidea

balafon balafons balagan balalaika balalaikas balance (current term) balance-beam balance-of-payments problem balance beam balance beams

balance board balance boards balance of international payments balance of payments balance of power balance of probabilities balance of trade balance out balance sheet balance sheets

Literary usage of Balance

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1883)
"the good old t wo-pan balance An unfa r comparison between and the Mettler P1200 N The two-pan balance has been around for about 6000 years or more, ..."

2. Monographic Medicine by William Robie Patten Emerson, Guido Guerrini, William Brown, Wendell Christopher Phillips, John Whitridge Williams, John Appleton Swett, Hans Günther, Mario Mariotti, Hugh Grant Rowell (1916)
"Determination of the Water-balance We have already referred to the significance of water in metabolism (Part XIII, Section i, 0). ..."

3. Transactions by East Hertfordshire Archaeological Society (1903)
"The Council, in presenting to the members the fifth Annual Report and balance Sheet, are again able to report ail increase in the membership, ..."

4. Journal of the American Chemical Society by American Chemical Society (1894)
"I do not allude to the analytical balance only. The assay, prescription, or pulp balance, often has this important improvement wanting. ..."

5. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London by Royal Society (Great Britain) (1890)
"The balance used could be read directly to TV milligram, and had been proved to be a most reliable instrument. The weights were an excellent set by ..."

6. A History of the People of the United States: From the Revolution to the by John Bach McMaster (1901)
"It destroyed what was then called the balance of power between the North and the South. It stirred up the Federal press of New England to clamor for a ..."

Other Resources: