balancenoun
1an even distribution of weight ensuring stability.
Sailingthe ability of a boat to stay on course without adjustment of the rudder.
2mental or emotional stability.
3a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.
4an apparatus for weighing, especially one with a central pivot, beam, and two scales.
5a counteracting weight or force.
(alsobalance wheel) the regulating device in a clock or watch.
6a predominating amount; a preponderance:the balance of opinion was that work was important.
7a figure representing the amount of money held in an account:his bank balance.
the difference between an amount due and an amount paid.
verb
1be or put in a steady position.
2offset or compare the value of (one thing) with another.
[often asadjectivebalanced] establish equal or appropriate proportions of elements in:a balanced diet.
3compare debits and credits in (an account) to ensure that they are equal.
Phrases
balance of paymentsthe difference in total value between payments into and out of a country over a period.
balance of power
1a situation in which states of the world have roughly equal power.
2the power held by a small group when larger groups are of equal strength.
balance of tradethe difference in value between a country's imports and exports.
be(orhang)in the balancebe in an uncertain or critical state.
on balancewhen all factors are taken into consideration.
throw(orcatch)someone off balancemake someone unsteady or catch someone unawares.
Derivatives
balancernoun
Origin
ME: from OFr.balance(n.),balancer(v.), based on late L.(libra) bilanx'(balance) having two scale-pans'.
Thesaurusbalancenoun
1I tripped and lost my balance: STABILITY, equilibrium, steadiness, footing.
2political balance in broadcasting: FAIRNESS, justice, impartiality, egalitarianism, equal opportunity; parity, equity, equilibrium, equipoise, evenness, symmetry, correspondence, uniformity, equality, equivalence, comparability.
3this stylistic development provides a balance to the rest of the work: COUNTERBALANCE, counterweight, stabilizer, compensation.
4the food was weighed on a balance: SCALE(S), weighing machine, weighbridge.
5the balance of the rent: REMAINDER, outstanding amount, rest, residue, difference, remaining part.
Oppositesinstability.
verb
1she balanced the book on her head: STEADY, stabilize, poise, level.
2he balanced his radical remarks with more familiar declarations: COUNTERBALANCE, balance out, offset, even out/up, counteract, compensate for, make up for.
3their income and expenditure do not balance: CORRESPOND, agree, tally, match up, concur, coincide, be in agreement, be consistent, equate, be equal.
4you need to balance cost against benefit: WEIGH, weigh up, compare, evaluate, consider, assess, appraise, judge.
Phrases
in the balanceUNCERTAIN, undetermined, unsettled, unresolved, unsure, pending, in limbo, up in the air, at a turning point, critical, at a critical stage, at a crisis.
on balanceOVERALL, all in all, all things considered, taking everything into consideration/account, by and large, on average.