An apparatus for weighing. [1913 Webster]
" 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." [1913 Webster]
Act of weighing mentally; comparison; estimate. [1913 Webster]
"A fair balance of the advantages on either side." [1913 Webster]
Equipoise between the weights in opposite scales. [1913 Webster]
The state of being in equipoise; equilibrium; even adjustment; steadiness. [1913 Webster]
"And hung a bottle on each side
To make his balance true." [1913 Webster]

"The order and balance of the country were destroyed." [1913 Webster]

"English workmen completely lose their balance." [1913 Webster]
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. Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
"I still think the balance of probabilities leans towards the account given in the text." [1913 Webster]
A balance wheel, as of a watch, or clock. See Balance wheel (in the Vocabulary). [1913 Webster]
The constellation Libra. [1913 Webster]
A movement in dancing. See Balance, v. t., 8. [1913 Webster]

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. Knight. -- Balance fish. (Zoöl) See Hammerhead. -- Balance knife, a carving or table knife the handle of which overbalances the blade, and so keeps it from contact with the table. -- Balance of power (Politics), such an adjustment of power among sovereign states that no one state is in a position to interfere with the independence of the others; international equilibrium; also, the ability (of a state or a third party within a state) to control the relations between sovereign states or between dominant parties in a state. -- Balance sheet (Bookkeeping), a paper showing the balances of the open accounts of a business, the debit and credit balances footing up equally, if the system of accounts be complete and the balances correctly taken. -- Balance thermometer, a thermometer mounted as a balance so that the movement of the mercurial column changes the inclination of the tube. With the aid of electrical or mechanical devices adapted to it, it is used for the automatic regulation of the temperature of rooms warmed artificially, and as a fire alarm. -- Balance of torsion. See Torsion Balance. -- Balance of trade (Pol. Econ.), 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; esp., a puppet valve which is made to operate easily by the admission of steam to both sides. See Puppet valve. -- Hydrostatic balance. See under Hydrostatic. -- To lay in balance, to put up as a pledge or security. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- To strike a balance, to find out the difference between the debit and credit sides of an account.

Balance, v. t. [From Balance, n.: cf. F. balancer.].

To bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights; to weigh in a balance. [1913 Webster]
To support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling; as, to balance a plate on the end of a cane; to balance one's self on a tight rope. [1913 Webster]
To equal in number, weight, force, or proportion; to counterpoise, counterbalance, counteract, or neutralize. [1913 Webster]
"One expression . . . must check and balance another." [1913 Webster]
To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate. [1913 Webster]
"Balance the good and evil of things." [1913 Webster]
To settle and adjust, as an account; to make two accounts equal by paying the difference between them. [1913 Webster]
"I am very well satisfied that it is not in my power to balance accounts with my Maker." [1913 Webster]
To make the sums of the debits and credits of an account equal; -- said of an item; as, this payment, or credit, balances the account. [1913 Webster]
To arrange accounts in such a way that the sum total of the debits is equal to the sum total of the credits; as, to balance a set of books. [1913 Webster]
To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally; as, to balance partners. [1913 Webster]
To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass; as, to balance the boom mainsail. [1913 Webster]

Balanced valve. See Balance valve, under Balance, n.

Syn. -- To poise; weigh; adjust; counteract; neutralize; equalize.

Balance, v. i.

To have equal weight on each side; to be in equipoise; as, the scales balance. [1913 Webster]
To fluctuate between motives which appear of equal force; to waver; to hesitate. [1913 Webster]
"He would not balance or err in the determination of his choice." [1913 Webster]
To move toward a person or couple, and then back. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

Balance, n. & v.
--n.
1 an apparatus for weighing, esp. one with a central pivot, beam, and two scales.
2 a a counteracting weight or force. b (in full balance-wheel) the regulating device in a clock etc.
3 a an even distribution of weight or amount. b stability of body or mind (regained his balance).
4 a preponderating weight or amount (the balance of opinion).
5 a an agreement between or the difference between credits and debits in an account. b the difference between an amount due and an amount paid (will pay the balance next week). c an amount left over; the rest.
6 a Art harmony of design and proportion. b Mus. the relative volume of various sources of sound (bad balance between violins and trumpets).
7 (the Balance) the zodiacal sign or constellation Libra.
--v.
1 tr. (foll. by with, against) offset or compare (one thing) with another (must balance the advantages with the disadvantages).
2 tr. counteract, equal, or neutralize the weight or importance of.
3 a tr. bring into or keep in equilibrium (balanced a book on her head). b intr. be in equilibrium (balanced on one leg).
4 tr. (usu. as balanced adj.) establish equal or appropriate proportions of elements in (a balanced diet; balanced opinion).
5 tr. weigh (arguments etc.) against each other.
6 a tr. compare and esp. equalize debits and credits of (an account). b intr. (of an account) have credits and debits equal.

Idiom

balance of payments the difference in value between payments into and out of a country. balance of power
1 a situation in which the chief States of the world have roughly equal power.
2 the power held by a small group when larger groups are of equal strength. balance of trade the difference in value between imports and exports. balance sheet a statement giving the balance of an account. in the balance uncertain; at a critical stage. on balance all things considered. strike a balance choose a moderate course or compromise.

Derivative

balanceable adj. balancer n.

Etymology

ME f. OF, ult. f. LL (libra) bilanx bilancis two-scaled (balance)

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THESAURUS

Balance

Swiss bank account, accommodate, accord, account, account current, account rendered, account stated, adjust, afterglow, afterimage, agree, amount to, analogize, analogousness, aplomb, arrangement, assess, assets, assimilate, assimilate to, assurance, atmosphere, atone for, attune, audit, authority, available means, average, back down, balance the books, balanced personality, ballast, bank account, be heavy, beauty, bilateral symmetry, bonus, book, bottom dollar, break even, bring into analogy, bring into comparison, brushwork, budget, butt, butt end, cancel, candle ends, capital, capital goods, capitalization, capitalize, carry, carry over, carry weight, cash account, cash reserves, cast up accounts, center, chaff, charge off, check, check out, checking account, close out, close the books, coequality, coextension, collectedness, color, come to, come up to, command, command of money, commensurability, common sense, communion, community, comparability, comparableness, comparativeness, compare, compare and contrast, compare with, compensate, compensate for, composition, composure, concinnity, confidence, conformity, confront, congruity, consider, consideration, consistency, constancy, contact with reality, contrast, control, control account, cool, cool head, coolheadedness, coolness, coolth, coordinate, corelation, correlation, correlativism, correlativity, correspond, correspondence, counteract, counterbalance, counterpoise, counterpose, countervail, counterweigh, counterweight, credit, damp, debate, debit, debris, deficit, deliberate, demonstrate, demur, design, detritus, difference, discrepancy, ditto, dividend, docket, double-check, draftsmanship, draw, draw a comparison, draw a parallel, due sense of, dynamic symmetry, end, enter, epact, equability, equal, equality, equalize, equanimity, equate, equation, equilibrium, equilibrize, equipoise, equipollence, equiponderance, equiponderate, equity, equivalence, equivalency, equivalent, estimate, euphony, eurythmics, eurythmy, evaluate, even, even off, even out, even up, evenness, excess, exchequer, extra, fag end, falter, fastness, fear, filings, finances, finish, firm, firm up, firmness, fit, flatten, footing, fossil, freeze, fund, funds, generality, give-and-take, golden mean, good sense, gratuity, grist, grouping, hang back, happy medium, harmonize, harmony, have weight, healthy mind, heel, heft, hem and haw, hesitate, hold, hold the scales, holdings, holdover, homeostasis, homogenize, horse sense, hover, hum and haw, husks, identity, immobilize, imperturbability, income account, integrate, invariability, inventory, inverse proportion, inverse ratio, inverse relationship, jib, journalize, juste-milieu, justice, keep, keep books, keep pace with, keeping, kitty, knot, lagniappe, leavings, leftover, leftovers, level, level head, levelheadedness, levelness, lie heavy, life savings, liken, liken to, likeness, line, liquid assets, log, lucid interval, lucidity, make an entry, make uniform, make up, make up for, makeweight, margin, match, match up with, mean, means, measure, measure against, measure up to, measuredness, median, mediocrity, medium, mental balance, mental equilibrium, mental health, mental hygiene, mental poise, metaphorize, middle, middle course, middle ground, middle point, middle position, middle state, middle-of-the-road, midpoint, minute, moneys, multilateral symmetry, mutuality, nail down, nerve, nest egg, net, norm, normal, normalcy, normality, normalize, normalness, note, odds and ends, offscourings, offset, oppose, order, orderedness, orts, outweigh, overage, overhaul, overmeasure, overplus, overrun, overset, overstock, oversupply, painterliness, par, parallel, parallelism, parings, parity, pause, pecuniary resources, perspective, pin down, place against, plain sense, plus, pocket, poise, polarity, ponder, pool, possession, post, post up, pourboire, practical mind, practical wisdom, practicality, preponderance, presence of mind, property, proportion, proportionability, proportionality, proportionate, prove, provision account, pull back, purse, quid pro quo, rags, ratio, rationality, reach, reason, reasonableness, reciprocality, reciprocation, reciprocity, reckoning, redeem, refuse, regularity, regularize, regulate, relate, relativity, reliability, relics, remainder, remains, remnant, repose, reserves, residual, residue, residuum, resource, resources, rest, restraint, retain, retreat, revenue account, rhythm, right mind, rival, roach, rootedness, rubbish, ruins, rule, rump, run, run a comparison, run abreast, run to, running account, sales account, sameness, sanemindedness, saneness, sang-froid, sangfroid, sanity, savings, savings account, sawdust, scales, score, scourings, scraps, scruple, secureness, security, self-assurance, self-command, self-confidence, self-control, self-possession, self-restraint, selling account, sense, senses, sensibleness, set in contrast, set in opposition, set off, set off against, set over against, setoff, shading, shadow, shapeliness, shavings, shilly-shally, shy, similarity, similize, smooth, sober senses, sober-mindedness, soberness, sobriety, solidity, something extra, something of value, sound mind, soundness, soundness of mind, spare, square, square up, stabilitate, stability, stabilize, stable state, stack up with, stagnancy, stagnation, standardize, stasis, steadfastness, steadiness, steady, steady nerves, steady state, stereotype, stick, stick at, stickle, stock account, stop to consider, straddle the fence, strain at, straw, strike a balance, stubble, stump, substance, substantiality, supply, surplus, surplusage, survival, suspense account, sweepings, sweetness, symmetricalness, symmetrize, symmetry, take stock, tally, technique, think twice about, tie, tip, tip the scales, tit for tat, tone, touch, trace, transfix, treasure, treatment, trilateral symmetry, tune, undeflectability, uniformity, uniformize, unregistered bank account, unshakable nerves, unshakableness, valuation account, values, verify, vestige, via media, view together, waste, weigh, weigh against, weigh heavy, weigh in, weigh out, weight, well-regulated mind, wherewithal, wholesomeness, withdraw, yield

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ROGET THESAURUS

Balance

Irresolution

VB be irresolute, hang in suspense, keep in suspense, leave "ad referendum", think twice about, pause, dawdle, remain neuter, dillydally, hesitate, boggle, hover, dacker, hum and haw, demur, not know one's own mind, debate, balance, dally with, coquet with, will and will not, chaser-balancer, go halfway, compromise, make a compromise, be thrown off one's balance, stagger like a drunken man, be afraid, let 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would', falter, waver vacillate, change, retract, fluctuate, pendulate, alternate, keep off and on, play fast and loose, blow hot and cold, shuffle, palter, blink, trim.

Equality

N equality, parity, coextension, symmetry, balance, poise, evenness, monotony, level, equivalence, equipollence, equipoise, equilibrium, equiponderance, par, quits, a wash, not a pin to choose, distinction without a difference, six of one and half a dozen of the other, tweedle dee and tweedle dum, identity, similarity, equalization, equation, equilibration, co-ordination, adjustment, readjustment, drawn game, drawn battle, neck and neck race, tie, draw, standoff, dead heat, match, peer, compeer, equal, mate, fellow, brother, equivalent, equal, even, level, monotonous, coequal, symmetrical, coordinate, on a par with, on a level with, on a footing with, up to the mark, equiparant, equivalent, tantamount, indistinguishable, quits, homologous, synonymous, resolvable into, convertible, much at one, as broad as long, neither more nor less, much the same as, the same thing as, as good as, all one, all the same, equipollent, equiponderant, equiponderous, equibalanced, equalized, drawn, half and half, isochronal, isochronous isoperimetric, isoperimetrical, isobath, isobathic, equally, pari passu, ad eundum, caeteris paribus, in equilibrio, to all intents and purposes, it comes to the same thing, it amounts to the same thing, what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gande.

VB be equal, equal, match, reach, keep pace with, run abreast, come to, amount to, come up to, be on a level with, lie on a level with, balance, cope with, come to the same thing, render equal, equalize level, dress, balance, equate, handicap, give points, spot points, handicap, trim, adjust, poise, fit, accommodate, adapt, strike a balance, establish equality, restore equality, restore equilibrium, readjust, stretch on the bed of Procrustes, be equal, equal, match, reach, keep pace with, run abreast, come to, amount to, come up to, be on a level with, lie on a level with, balance, cope with, come to the same thing, render equal, equalize level, dress, balance, equate, handicap, give points, spot points, handicap, trim, adjust, poise, fit, accommodate, adapt, strike a balance, establish equality, restore equality, restore equilibrium, readjust, stretch on the bed of Procrustes.

Mean

N mean, average, median, mode, balance, medium, mediocrity, generality, golden mean middle, compromise, middle course, middle state, neutrality, mediocrity, least common denominator, mean, intermediate, middle, average, neutral, mediocre, middle-class, commonplace, on an average, in the long run, taking one with another, taking all things together, taking it for all in all, communibus annis, in round numbers, medium tenuere beati.

Compensation

VB make compensation, compensate, compense, indemnify, counteract, countervail, counterpoise, balance, outbalance, overbalance, counterbalance, set off, hedge, square, give and take, make up for, lee way, cover, fill up, neutralize, nullify, equalize, make good, redeem.

Remainder

N remainder, residue, remains, remanent, remnant, rest, relic, leavings, heeltap, odds and ends, cheesepairings, candle ends, orts, residuum, dregs, refuse, stubble, result, educt, fag-end, ruins, wreck, skeleton, stump, alluvium, surplus, overplus, excess, balance, complement, superplus, surplusage, superfluity, survival, survivance, remaining, left, left behind left over, residual, residuary, over, odd, unconsumed, sedimentary, surviving, net, exceeding, over and above, outlying, outstanding, cast off, superfluous.

Numeration

VB number, count, tally, tell, call over, run over, take an account of, enumerate, muster, poll, recite, recapitulate, sum, sum up, cast up, tell off, score, cipher, compute, calculate, suppute, add, subtract, multiply, divide, extract roots, algebraize, check, prove, demonstrate, balance, audit, overhaul, take stock, affix numbers to, page, amount to, add up to, come to.

Money

N money, legal tender, money matters, money market, finance, accounts, funds, treasure, capital, stock, assets, wealth, supplies, ways and means, wherewithal, sinews of war, almighty dollar, needful, cash, mammon, dough, cabbage, money-like instruments, M, M, sum, amount, balance, balance sheet, sum total, proceeds, currency, circulating medium, specie, coin, piece, hard cash, cold cash, dollar, sterling coin, pounds shillings and pence, Ls, d, pocket, breeches pocket, purse, money in hand, cash at hand, ready money, ready cash, slug, wad wad of bills, wad of money, thick wad of bills, roll of dough, rhino, blunt, dust, mopus, tin, salt, chink, argent comptant, bottom dollar, buzzard dollar, checks, dibs, double eagle, eagle, Federal currency, fractional currency, postal currency, Federal Reserve Note, United States Note, silver certificate, gold certificate, long bit, short bit, moss, nickel, pile, pin money, quarter, red cent, roanoke, rock, seawan, seawant, thousand dollars, grand, single, one-dollar bill, two- dollar bill, five-dollar bill, fiver, fin, Lincoln, ten-dollar bill, sawbuck, twenty-dollar bill, Jackson, double sawbuck, fifty-dollar bill, hundred-dollar bill, C-note, penny, cent, Lincoln cent, indian head penny, copper, two-cent piece three-cent piece, half- dime, nickel, buffalo nickel, V nickel, dime, disme, mercury dime, quarter, two bits, half dollar, dollar, silver dollar, Eisenhower dollar, Susan B, Anthony dollar, precious metals, gold, silver, copper, bullion, ingot, nugget, petty cash, pocket money, change, small change, small coin, doit, stiver, rap, mite, farthing, sou, penny, shilling, tester, groat, guinea, rouleau, wampum, good sum, round sum, lump sum, power of money, plum, lac of rupees, major coin, crown, minor coin, monetarist, monetary theory, numismatics, chrysology, numismatist, paper money, greenback, major denomination, minor denomination, money order, postal money order, Post Office order, bank note, bond, bill, bill of exchange, order, warrant, coupon, debenture, exchequer bill, assignat, blueback, hundi, shinplaster, note, note of hand, promissory note, I O U, draft, check, cheque, back-dated check, negotiable order of withdrawal, NOW, remittance, credit, liability, drawer, drawee, obligor, obligee, moneyer, coiner, false money, bad money, base coin, flash note, slip, kite, fancy stocks, Bank of Elegance, argumentum ad crumenam, letter of credit, circulation, multiplier effect, inflation, double-digit inflation, hyperinflation, erosion of the currency, debasement of the currency, deflation, stagflation, exchange rate, rate of exchange, floating exchange rates, fixed rates, currency counter, currency exchange, bureau de change, gold-backed currency, gold standard, silver standard, bank account, savings account, checking account, money market account, NOW account, time deposit, deposit, demand deposit, super NOW account, certificate of deposit, CD, $, US$, Y, A$, Federal Reserve Bank, central bank, Federal Reserve Board, board of governors of the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, Secret Service, mint, bureau of engraving, seigniorage, counterfeit, funny money, bogus money, (falsehood), interest, interest rate, discount rate, monetary, pecuniary, crumenal, fiscal, financial, sumptuary, numismatic, numismatical, sterling, nummary, barbarus ipse placet dummodo sit dives, but the jingling of the guinea helps the hurt that, Gelt regiert die Welt, money rules the world, money makes the world go round, nervos belli pecuniam infinitam, redet Geld so schweigt die Welt, money is the mother's milk of politics, money is the root of all evil, money isn't everything, as phony as a three-dollar bill, don't take any wooden nickels.

Accounts

N accounts, accompts, commercial arithmetic, monetary arithmetic, statistics, money matters, finance, budget, bill, score, reckoning, account, books, account book, ledger, day book, cash book, pass book, journal, debtor and creditor account, cash account, running account, account current, balance, balance sheet, compte rendu, account settled, acquit, assets, expenditure, liabilities, outstanding accounts, profit and loss account, profit and loss statement, receipts, bookkeeping, accounting, double entry bookkeeping, reckoning, audit, accountant, auditor, actuary, bookkeeper, bean counter, financier, accounting party, chartered accountant, certified accountant, accounting firm, auditing firm, monetary, accountable, accounting.

Gravity

N gravity, gravitation, weight, heaviness, specific gravity, pondorosity, pressure, load, burden, burthen, ballast, counterpoise, lump of, mass of, weight of, lead, millstone, mountain, Ossa on Pelion, weighing, ponderation, trutination, weights, avoirdupois weight, troy weight, apothecaries' weight, grain, scruple, drachma, ounce, pound, lb, arroba, load, stone, hundredweight, cwt, ton, long ton, metric ton, quintal, carat, pennyweight, tod, gram, centigram, milligram, microgram, kilogram, nanogram, picogram, femtogram, attogram, balance, scale, scales, steelyard, beam, weighbridge, spring balance, piezoelectric balance, analytical balance, two-pan balance, one-pan balance, postal scale, baby scale, statics, weighty, weighing, heavy as lead, ponderous, ponderable, lumpish, lumpy, cumbersome, burdensome, cumbrous, unwieldy, massive, incumbent, superincumbent.

Comparison

VB compare to, compare with, collate, confront, place side by side, juxtapose, set against one another, pit against one another, contrast, balance, identify, draw a parallel, parallel, compare notes, institute a comparison, parva componere magnis.

Measurement

N measurement, admeasurement, mensuration, survey, valuation, appraisement, assessment, assize, estimate, estimation, dead reckoning, reckoning, gauging, horse power, metrology, weights and measures, compound arithmetic, measure, yard measure, standard, rule, foot rule, compass, calipers, gage, gauge, meter, line, rod, check, dividers, velo, flood mark, high water mark, Plimsoll line, index, scale, graduation, graduated scale, nonius, vernier, bathometer, galvanometer, heliometer, interferometer, odometer, ombrometer, pantometer, pluviometer, pneumatometer, pneumometer, radiometer, refractometer, respirometer, rheometer, spirometer, telemeter, udometer, vacuometer, variometer, viameter, thermometer, thermistor (heat) &c, barometer (air), anemometer (wind), dynamometer, goniometer, (angle) 244 meter, landmark, balance, scale, marigraph, pneumatograph, stethograph, rain gauge, rain gage, voltmeter (volts), ammeter (amps), spectrophotometer (light absorbance), mass spectrophotometer (molecular mass), geiger counter, scintillation counter (radioactivity), pycnometer (liquid density), graduated cylinder, volumetric flask (volume), radar gun (velocity), radar (distance), side-looking radar, (shape, topography), sonar (depth in water), light meter (light intensity), clock, watch, stopwatch, chronometer (time), anemometer (wind velocity), densitometer (color intensity), measurability, computability, determinability, coordinates, ordinate and abscissa, polar coordinates, latitude and longitude, declination and right ascension, altitude and azimuth, geometry, stereometry, hypsometry, metage, surveying, land surveying, geodesy, geodetics, geodesia, orthometry, altimetry, cadastre, astrolabe, armillary sphere, land surveyor, geometer, measuring, metric, metrical, measurable, perceptible, noticeable, detectable, appreciable, ponderable, determinable, fathomable, geodetical, topographic, topographical, cartographic, cartographical.

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