Balance n the. the constellation Libra, the seventh sign of the zodiac
balance
n
1 a weighing device, generally consisting of a horizontal beam pivoted at its centre, from the ends of which two pans are suspended. The substance to be weighed is placed in one pan and known weights are placed in the other until the beam returns to the horizontal
See also →
microbalance
2 an imagined device for events, actions, motives, etc., in relation to each other (esp. in the phrases weigh in the balance, hang in the balance)
4 something that brings about such a state
5 equilibrium of the body; steadiness
to lose one's balance
6 emotional stability; calmness of mind
7 harmony in the parts of a whole
balance in an artistic composition
8 the act of weighing factors, quantities, etc., against each other
9 the power to influence or control
he held the balance of power
10 something that remains or is left
let me have the balance of what you owe me
a equality of debit and credit totals in an account
b a difference between such totals
12 (Chem) the state of a chemical equation in which the number, kind, electrical charges, etc., of the atoms on opposite sides are equal
14 short for →
spring balance
15 ♦
in the balance in an uncertain or undecided condition
16 ♦
on balance after weighing up all the factors
17 ♦
strike a balance to make a compromise
vb
18 tr to weigh in or as if in a balance
19 intr to be or come into equilibrium
20 tr to bring into or hold in equilibrium
21 tr to assess or compare the relative weight, importance, etc., of
22 tr to act so as to equalize; be equal to
23 tr to compose or arrange so as to create a state of harmony
24 tr to bring (a chemical or mathematical equation) into balance
a to compute the credit and debit totals of (an account) in order to determine the difference
b to equalize the credit and debit totals of (an account) by making certain entries
c to settle or adjust (an account) by paying any money due
26 intr (of a business account, balance sheet, etc.) to have the debit and credit totals equal
27 to match or counter (one's dancing partner or his or her steps) by moving towards and away from him or her
(C13: from Old French, from Vulgar Latin bilancia (unattested), from Late Latin bilanx having two scalepans, from bi-1 + lanx scale)
♦
balanceable adj
balance bridge
n another name for bascule bridge (see bascule (sense 1))
balance of nature
n the stable state in which natural communities of animals and plants exist, maintained by adaptation, competition, and other interactions between members of the community and their nonliving environment
balance of payments
n the difference over a given time between total payments to foreign nations, arising from imports of goods and services and transfers abroad of capital, interest, grants, etc., and total receipts from foreign nations, arising from exports of goods and services and transfers from abroad of capital, interest, grants, etc.
balance of power
n
1 the distribution of power among countries so that no one nation can seriously threaten the fundamental interests of another
2 any similar distribution of power or influence
balance of trade
n the difference in value between total exports and total imports of goods, (Also called)
visible balance Compare →
invisible balance
balance pipe
n (Engineering) a pipe between two points used to equalize pressure
balance sheet
n a statement that shows the financial position of a business enterprise at a specified date by listing the asset balances and the claims on such assets
balance weight
n (Engineering) a weight used in machines to counterbalance a part, as of a crankshaft, (Also called)
bobweight
balance wheel
n a wheel oscillating against the hairspring of a timepiece, thereby regulating its beat
hydrostatic balance
n a balance for finding the weight of an object submerged in water in order to determine the upthrust on it and thus determine its relative density
invisible balance
n (Economics) the difference in value between total exports of services plus payment of property incomes from abroad and total imports of services plus payment abroad of property incomes
Compare →
balance of trade
off-balance sheet reserve
n (Accounting) a sum of money or an asset that should appear on a company's balance but does not; hidden reserve
spring balance , (esp. U.S.) spring scale
n a device in which an object to be weighed is attached to the end of a helical spring, the extension of which indicates the weight of the object on a calibrated scale
torsion balance
n an instrument used to measure small forces, esp. electric or magnetic forces, by the torsion they produce in a thin wire, thread, or rod
trial balance
n (Book-keeping) a statement of all the debit and credit balances in the ledger of a double-entry system, drawn up to test their equality
visible balance
n another name for →
balance of trade