balance : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: balance	by the DICT Development Group
7 results for balance
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
balance n a state of equilibrium [ant: imbalance, instability, unbalance] equality between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole (as in a design); "in all perfectly beautiful objects there is found the opposition of one part to another and a reciprocal balance"- John Ruskin Synonym(s): proportion, proportionality, balance equality of distribution Synonym(s): balance, equilibrium, equipoise, counterbalance something left after other parts have been taken away; "there was no remainder"; "he threw away the rest"; "he took what he wanted and I got the balance" Synonym(s): remainder, balance, residual, residue, residuum, rest the difference between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Libra Synonym(s): Libra, Balance the seventh sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about September 23 to October 22 Synonym(s): Libra, Libra the Balance, Balance, Libra the Scales (mathematics) an attribute of a shape or relation; exact reflection of form on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane Synonym(s): symmetry, symmetricalness, correspondence, balance Antonym(s): asymmetry, dissymmetry, imbalance a weight that balances another weight Synonym(s): counterweight, counterbalance, counterpoise, balance, equalizer, equaliser a wheel that regulates the rate of movement in a machine; especially a wheel oscillating against the hairspring of a timepiece to regulate its beat Synonym(s): balance wheel, balance a scale for weighing; depends on pull of gravity v bring into balance or equilibrium; "She has to balance work and her domestic duties"; "balance the two weights" Synonym(s): balance, equilibrate, equilibrize, equilibrise Antonym(s): unbalance compute credits and debits of an account hold or carry in equilibrium Synonym(s): poise, balance be in equilibrium; "He was balancing on one foot"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
{To turn one's coat}, to change one's uniform or colors; to go over to the opposite party. {To turn one's goods} [or] {money}, and the like, to exchange in the course of trade; to keep in lively exchange or circulation; to gain or increase in trade. {To turn one's hand to}, to adapt or apply one's self to; to engage in. {To turn out}. (a) To drive out; to expel; as, to turn a family out of doors; to turn a man out of office. I'll turn you out of my kingdom. -- Shak. (b) to put to pasture, as cattle or horses. (c) To produce, as the result of labor, or any process of manufacture; to furnish in a completed state. (d) To reverse, as a pocket, bag, etc., so as to bring the inside to the outside; hence, to produce. (e) To cause to cease, or to put out, by turning a stopcock, valve, or the like; as, to turn out the lights. {To turn over}. (a) To change or reverse the position of; to overset; to overturn; to cause to roll over. (b) To transfer; as, to turn over business to another hand. (c) To read or examine, as a book, while, turning the leaves. [bd]We turned o'er many books together.[b8] --Shak. (d) To handle in business; to do business to the amount of; as, he turns over millions a year. [Colloq.] {To turn over a new leaf}. See under {Leaf}. {To turn tail}, to run away; to retreat ignominiously. {To turn the back}, to flee; to retreat. {To turn the back on} [or] {upon}, to treat with contempt; to reject or refuse unceremoniously. {To turn the corner}, to pass the critical stage; to get by the worst point; hence, to begin to improve, or to succeed. {To turn the die} [or] {dice}, to change fortune. {To turn the edge} [or] {point of}, to bend over the edge or point of so as to make dull; to blunt. {To turn the head} [or] {brain of}, to make giddy, wild, insane, or the like; to infatuate; to overthrow the reason or judgment of; as, a little success turned his head. {To turn the scale} [or] {balance}, to change the preponderance; to decide or determine something doubtful. {To turn the stomach of}, to nauseate; to sicken. {To turn the tables}, to reverse the chances or conditions of success or superiority; to give the advantage to the person or side previously at a disadvantage. {To turn tippet}, to make a change. [Obs.] --B. Jonson. {To turn to} {profit, advantage}, etc., to make profitable or advantageous. {To turn up}. (a) To turn so as to bring the bottom side on top; as, to turn up the trump. (b) To bring from beneath to the surface, as in plowing, digging, etc. (c) To give an upward curve to; to tilt; as, to turn up the nose. {To turn upon}, to retort; to throw back; as, to turn the arguments of an opponent upon himself. {To turn upside down}, to confuse by putting things awry; to throw into disorder. This house is turned upside down since Robin Ostler died. --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Balance \Bal"ance\, n. [OE. balaunce, F. balance, fr. L. bilan[?], bilancis, having two scales; bis twice (akin to E. two) + lanx plate, scale.] 1. An apparatus for weighing. Note: 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. 2. Act of weighing mentally; comparison; estimate. A fair balance of the advantages on either side. --Atterbury. 3. Equipoise between the weights in opposite scales. 4. The state of being in equipoise; equilibrium; even adjustment; steadiness. And hung a bottle on each side To make his balance true. --Cowper. The order and balance of the country were destroyed. --Buckle. English workmen completely lose their balance. --J. S. Mill. 5. 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. [bd] A balance at the banker's. [b8] --Thackeray. I still think the balance of probabilities leans towards the account given in the text. --J. Peile. 6. (Horol.) A balance wheel, as of a watch, or clock. See {Balance wheel} (in the Vocabulary). 7. (Astron.) (a) The constellation Libra. (b) The seventh sign in the Zodiac, called Libra, which the sun enters at the equinox in September. 8. A movement in dancing. See {Balance}, v. i., S. {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}. (Zo[94]l) 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 indication 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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Balance wheel \Bal"ance wheel`\ 1. (Horology) (a) A wheel which regulates the beats or pulses of a watch or chronometer, answering to the pendulum of a clock; -- often called simply a {balance}. (b) A ratchet-shaped scape wheel, which in some watches is acted upon by the axis of the balance wheel proper (in those watches called a balance). 2. (Mach.) A wheel which imparts regularity to the movements of any engine or machine; a fly wheel.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Balance \Bal"ance\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Balanced} ([?]); p. pr. & vb. n. {Balancing} ([?]).] [From {Balance}, n.: cf. F. balancer. ] 1. To bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights; to weigh in a balance. 2. 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. 3. To equal in number, weight, force, or proportion; to counterpoise, counterbalance, counteract, or neutralize. One expression . . . must check and balance another. --Kent. 4. To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate. Balance the good and evil of things. --L'Estrange. 5. To settle and adjust, as an account; to make two accounts equal by paying the difference between them. I am very well satisfied that it is not in my power to balance accounts with my Maker. --Addison. 6. 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. 7. 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. 8. (Dancing) To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally; as, to balance partners. 9. (Naut.) To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass; as, to balance the boom mainsail. {Balanced valve}. See {Balance valve}, under {Balance}, n. Syn: To poise; weigh; adjust; counteract; neutralize; equalize.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Balance \Bal"ance\, v. i. 1. To have equal weight on each side; to be in equipoise; as, the scales balance. 2. To fluctuate between motives which appear of equal force; to waver; to hesitate. He would not balance or err in the determination of his choice. --Locke. 3. (Dancing) To move toward a person or couple, and then back.
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Balance occurs in Lev. 19:36 and Isa. 46:6, as the rendering of the Hebrew _kanch'_, which properly means "a reed" or "a cane," then a rod or beam of a balance. This same word is translated "measuring reed" in Ezek. 40:3,5; 42:16-18. There is another Hebrew word, _mozena'yim_, i.e., "two poisers", also so rendered (Dan. 5:27). The balances as represented on the most ancient Egyptian monuments resemble those now in use. A "pair of balances" is a symbol of justice and fair dealing (Job 31:6; Ps. 62:9; Prov. 11:1). The expression denotes great want and scarcity in Rev. 6:5.