Definition of balance
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: physical equilibrium
trouble keeping your balance on a sailboat lost his balance and fell a boxer kept off balance for a whole round
b
: the ability to retain one's balance
Gymnasts must have a good sense of balance.
2a
: stability produced by even distribution of weight on each side of the vertical axis
when the two sides of the scale are in balance tipped the statue off balance
b
: equipoise between contrasting, opposing, or interacting elements
… the balance we strike between security and freedom.— Earl Warren Both parties were interviewed to provide balance in the report. the right balance of diet and exercise
c
accounting
: equality between the totals of the two sides of an account
3a
: an aesthetically pleasing integration of elements
achieving balance in a work of art
b
grammar
: the juxtaposition in writing of syntactically parallel (see parallel entry 1 sense 3c) constructions containing similar or contrasting ideas (such as "to err is human; to forgive, divine")
4a
accounting
: an amount in excess especially on the credit side of an account
has a comfortable balance in the bank You must maintain a minimum balance of $1000 in your account to avoid fees.
b
: weight or force of one side in excess of another
The balance of the evidence lay on the side of the defendant.
c
: something left over : remainder
answers will be given in the balance of this chapter— R. W. Murray
5
: mental and emotional steadiness
I doubt that Thoreau would be thrown off balance by the fantastic sights and sounds of the 20th century.— E. B. White
6
: an instrument for weighing: such as
a
: a beam that is supported freely in the center and has two pans of equal weight suspended from its ends
b
: a device that uses the elasticity of a spiral spring for measuring weight or force
7
: a means of judging or deciding
the balance of a free election
8
: a counterbalancing weight, force, or influence
The comedic character serves as a balance to the serious subject matter of the play.
9
: an oscillating wheel operating with a hairspring to regulate the movement of a timepiece
a watch's balance
in the balance
or in balance
on balance
: with the fate or outcome about to be determined
our future hangs in the balance as we await his decision
: with all things considered
the meeting went well on balance
balance
verb
balanced; balancing
Definition of balance (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: to poise or arrange in or as if in balance
balancing a book on her head The legislature hasn't balanced the budget in years.
b
: to bring into harmony or proportion
I struggled to balance my career and family life. a balanced diet
c
: to bring to a state or position of balance (see balance entry 1 sense 2)
balanced the scales by adding a little more on one side
2a(1)
accounting
: to compute the difference between the debits and credits of (an account)
balancing a company's books
(2)
: to pay the amount due on : settle
sent a check to balance her account
b(1)
: to arrange so that one set of elements exactly equals another
balance a mathematical equation
(2)
chemistry
: to complete (a chemical equation) so that the same number of atoms and electric charges of each kind appears on each side
3a
: counterbalance, offset
He served black coffee to help balance out the sweetness of the dessert. balance one consideration against another
b
: to equal or equalize in weight, number, or proportion
The good times balanced the bad times.
4
: to weigh in or as if in a balance (see balance entry 1 sense 6)
balance the profit and loss to see what had been gained
1
: to become balanced or established in balance
Try balancing on one foot. The good times and bad times balanced out.
2
: to be an equal counterbalance
—often used with out His speed will likely balance out his competitor's greater strength.The discount and the shipping charge balance each other out.
3
: waver sense 1
balances and temporizes on matters that demand action
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The first known use of balance was in the 13th century
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