poise
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2 ENTRIES FOUND:

1poise

verb \ˈpiz\
poisedpois·ing

Definition of POISE

transitive verb
1
a : balance; especially : to hold or carry in equilibrium <carried a water jar poised on her head>
b : to hold supported or suspended without motion in a steady position <poised her fork and gave her guest a knowing look — Louis Bromfield>
2
: to hold or carry (the head) in a particular way
3
: to put into readiness : brace
intransitive verb
1
: to become drawn up into readiness
2
: hover

Examples of POISE

  1. She poised her pencil above the paper and waited for the signal to begin writing.
  2. <the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference>

Origin of POISE

Middle English, to weigh, ponder, from Anglo-French peiser, poiser, from Latin pensare — more at pensive
First Known Use: 1598

Rhymes with POISE

2poise

noun

Definition of POISE

1
: a stably balanced state : equilibrium <a poise between widely divergent impulses — F. R. Leavis>
2
a : easy self-possessed assurance of manner : gracious tact in coping or handling; also : the pleasantly tranquil interaction between persons of poise <no angry outbursts marred the poise of the meeting>
b : a particular way of carrying oneself : bearing, carriage

Origin of POISE

Middle English poyse weight, heaviness, from Anglo-French peis, pois, from Latin pensum, from neuter of pensus, past participle of pendere to weigh — more at pendant
First Known Use: 1649

Rhymes with POISE

3poise

noun \ˈpwäz\

Definition of POISE

: a centimeter-gram-second unit of viscosity equal to the viscosity of a fluid that would require a shearing force of one dyne to impart to a one-square-centimeter area of an arbitrary layer of the fluid a velocity of one centimeter per second relative to another layer separated from the first by a distance of one centimeter

Origin of POISE

French, from Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille †1869 French physician and anatomist
First Known Use: 1913

poise

noun \ˈpiz, ˈpwäz\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of POISE

: a cgs unit of viscosity equal to the viscosity of a fluid that would require a shearing force of one dyne to impart to a one square-centimeter area of an arbitrary layer of the fluid a velocity of one centimeter per second relative to another layer separated from the first by a distance of one centimeter

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