balance en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈbæləns/
- (US) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Italic *dwi- Latin bi- Latin lanx Latin bilanx Vulgar Latin *bilancia Old French balancebor. Middle English balaunce English balance From Middle English balaunce, from Old French balance, from Late Latin *bilancia, from (accusative form of) Latin bilanx (“two-scaled”), from bi- + lanx (“plate, scale”). Displaced the word — Old English wǣġ akin to Modern English: wey from Proto-West Germanic *wāgu (“scales; weight”).
Meanings
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(uncountable) A state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium.
But civilized man is quite a different animal, and when he wipes out an entire city or levels a forest, he is no longer working within the natural balance of things.
1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 196:
- (uncountable) Mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed.
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(countable, figuratively, literally, uncountable) Something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium; counterweight.
Blair thought he could provide a useful balance to Bush's policies.
These weights are used as a balance for the overhanging verandah.
- (countable, uncountable) A pair of scales.
- (uncountable) Awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity.
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(uncountable) The overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.; the influence which ultimately "weighs" more than others.
The balance of power finally lay with the Royalist forces.
The shift in the balance of power online has allowed anyone to publish to the world, from dispirited teenagers in south London to an anonymous cyber-dissident in a Middle East autocracy.
2012 April 19, Josh Halliday, “Free speech haven or lawless cesspool – can the internet be civilised?”, in the Guardian:I think the balance of opinion is that we should get out while we're ahead.
- (uncountable) Apparent harmony in art (between differing colours, sounds, etc.).
- (countable, uncountable) A list accounting for the debits on one side, and for the credits on the other.
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(countable, uncountable) The result of such a procedure; the difference between credit and debit of an account.
I just need to nip to a bank and check my balance.
- (countable, uncountable) A device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc.
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(countable, uncountable) The remainder.
Balance Luzon
The invoice said he had only paid $50. The balance was $220.
The balance of the agreement remains in effect.
- (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Libra.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| balances | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| balaunce | alternative | lexicographic |
Antonyms
partiality (antonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”) · partisanship (antonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”) · unfairness (antonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”) · unbalance (antonym(s) of “equilibrium”) · favour (antonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”) · nonequilibrium (antonym(s) of “equilibrium”) · prejudice (antonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”) · imbalance (antonym(s) of “equilibrium”) · favor (antonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”) · bias (antonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”)
Deriveds
b. bike (Other noun phrases) · imbalance (Compound words) · credit balance (Accounting and economics) · symmetrical balance (Other noun phrases) · balance transfer (Accounting and economics) · color balance (Other noun phrases) · spring balance (Other noun phrases) · balance of power (Other noun phrases) · radiative balance (Other noun phrases) · letter balance (Other noun phrases) · ultra— (Compound words) · debit balance (Accounting and economics) · opening balance (Accounting and economics) · microbalance (Compound words) · balance of probability (Other noun phrases) · hang in the balance (Predicates) · trial balance (Accounting and economics) · throw off balance (Predicates) · counterbalance (Compound words) · equibalance (Compound words) · Roberval balance (Other noun phrases) · closing balance (Accounting and economics) · balanceman (Compound words) · balanced scorecard (Accounting and economics) · rebalance (Compound words) · electrobalance (Compound words) · check and balance (Other noun phrases) · balance sheet (Accounting and economics) · bank balance (Accounting and economics) · inbalance (Compound words) · adjusted trial balance (Accounting and economics) · on balance (Prepositional phrases) · balance of terror (Other noun phrases) · false balance (Other noun phrases) · water balance (Other noun phrases) · balance board (Other noun phrases) · balance room (Other noun phrases) · balance weight (Other noun phrases) · trial balance (Other noun phrases) · Roman balance (Other noun phrases) · balance of probabilities (Other noun phrases) · nanobalance (Compound words) · Jolly balance (Other noun phrases) · basic balance (Other noun phrases) · balance bicycle (Other noun phrases) · balance of equities (Accounting and economics) · Kelvin balance (Other noun phrases) · nitrogen balance (Other noun phrases) · mass balance (Other noun phrases) · Chinese balance (Other noun phrases) · keep one's balance (Predicates) · in the balance (Prepositional phrases) · steelyard balance (Other noun phrases) · acro-balance (Other noun phrases) · current balance (Accounting and economics) · misbalance (Compound words) · balance of payments (Accounting and economics) · tip the balance (Predicates) · thermobalance (Compound words) · disbalance (Compound words) · balance of trade (Accounting and economics) · ampere balance (Other noun phrases) · hydrostatic balance (Other noun phrases) · balancewise (Compound words) · strike a balance (Predicates) · acrobalance (Compound words) · compar. b. s. (Accounting and economics) · balance lock (Other noun phrases) · detailed balance (Other noun phrases) · balance dock (Other noun phrases) · balance wheel (Other noun phrases) · balance of nature (Other noun phrases) · analytical balance (Accounting and economics) · work-life balance (Other noun phrases) · compensation balance (Other noun phrases) · off balance (Prepositional phrases) · t. b. (Accounting and economics) · chemical balance (Other noun phrases) · overbalance (Compound words) · white balance (Other noun phrases) · weigh in the balance (Predicates) · power balance (Other noun phrases) · b.weight (Other noun phrases) · torsion balance (Other noun phrases) · balance beam (Other noun phrases) · lose one's balance (Predicates)
Synonyms
weighing machine (scales) · disinterest (support for both viewpoints) · fairness (support for both viewpoints) · neutrality (support for both viewpoints) · set of scales (scales) · equilibrium (equilibrium) · pair of scales (scales) · scales (scales) · account (list of credits and debits) · weighbridge (scales) · nonpartisanship (support for both viewpoints) · impartiality (support for both viewpoints) · even-handedness (support for both viewpoints)
Translations (117)
pt balanço (accounting: list of credits and debits) · gl balance (accounting: list of credits and debits) · enm balaunce (mental equilibrium) · da saldo (difference between credit and debit of an account) · fi tasapuolisuus (awareness of both viewpoints) · pl bilans (accounting: list of credits and debits) · es equilibrio (awareness of both viewpoints) · ru са́льдо (difference between credit and debit of an account) · de Rest (remainder) · fi saldo (difference between credit and debit of an account) · pl bilans (overall result of conflicting forces) · fr solde (difference between credit and debit of an account) · ru бала́нс (awareness of both viewpoints) · it bilancio (accounting: list of credits and debits) · tr bakiye (accounting: list of credits and debits) · ru сбаланси́рованность (awareness of both viewpoints) · hu mérleg (accounting: list of credits and debits) · ka სალდო (accounting: list of credits and debits) · hu egyenleg (difference between credit and debit of an account) · fi tase (accounting: list of credits and debits) · el ισορροπία (awareness of both viewpoints) · de Restbetrag (remainder) · da ligevægt (mental equilibrium) · mi toenga (difference between credit and debit of an account) · id seimbang (apparent harmony in art) · da balance (accounting: list of credits and debits) · ru балансир (device that regulates the speed of a watch) · de Bilanz (accounting: list of credits and debits) · he איזון (awareness of both viewpoints) · it saldo (difference between credit and debit of an account) · ro bilanț (accounting: list of credits and debits) · fr équilibre (apparent harmony in art) · ka ბალანსი (accounting: list of credits and debits) · mk салдо (accounting: list of credits and debits) · sh равноте́жа (awareness of both viewpoints) · hu kiegyensúlyozottság (awareness of both viewpoints) · bg баланси́раност (awareness of both viewpoints) · ga fuílleach (difference between credit and debit of an account) · mi hangarite (overall result of conflicting forces) · nl evenwicht (awareness of both viewpoints) · it equilibrio (apparent harmony in art) · ru взве́шенность (awareness of both viewpoints) · it bilanciere (device that regulates the speed of a watch) · fr solde (accounting: list of credits and debits) · pl bilans (difference between credit and debit of an account) · ko 잔액 (difference between credit and debit of an account) · pl balans (something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium) · fi liipotin (device that regulates the speed of a watch) · fi vastapaino (something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium) · da afvejning (awareness of both viewpoints) · cmn 中立 (awareness of both viewpoints) · pl saldo (accounting: list of credits and debits) · fi tasapaino (apparent harmony in art) · pl balansjer (device that regulates the speed of a watch) · ja 残額 (difference between credit and debit of an account) · id balans (accounting: list of credits and debits) · ru гармо́ния (mental equilibrium) · he מאזן (accounting: list of credits and debits) · sq balancë (awareness of both viewpoints) · it equilibrio (mental equilibrium) · sv avvägning (awareness of both viewpoints) · hu lelki béke (mental equilibrium) · pl saldo (difference between credit and debit of an account) · sv balansräkning (accounting: list of credits and debits) · el ισοζύγιο (accounting: list of credits and debits) · sq bilanc (accounting: list of credits and debits) · ru противовес (something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium) · pl balans (device that regulates the speed of a watch) · hu kiegyensúlyozottság (mental equilibrium) · it equilibrio (overall result of conflicting forces) · ca balanç (accounting: list of credits and debits) · fi tasapaino (mental equilibrium) · de Ausgewogenheit (awareness of both viewpoints) · pt saldo (difference between credit and debit of an account) · nl balans (accounting: list of credits and debits) · bg баланс (accounting: list of credits and debits) · fi loput (remainder) · de Guthaben (accounting: list of credits and debits) · id saldo (difference between credit and debit of an account) · nn saldo (accounting: list of credits and debits) · fi tasapaino (overall result of conflicting forces) · de Saldo (accounting: list of credits and debits) · sh bilancirati (accounting: list of credits and debits) · fi loppu (remainder) · es balance (accounting: list of credits and debits) · ru бала́нс (accounting: list of credits and debits) · ru уравнове́шенность (awareness of both viewpoints) · it neutralità (awareness of both viewpoints) · mi tapeke (difference between credit and debit of an account) · ka ანგარიში (accounting: list of credits and debits) · mi toenga (remainder) · it bilanciamento (something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium) · it contrappeso (something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium) · eo saldo (difference between credit and debit of an account) · mk била́нс (accounting: list of credits and debits) · sh ravnotéža (awareness of both viewpoints) · hu semlegesség (awareness of both viewpoints) · hy բալանս (accounting: list of credits and debits) · ota موازنه (difference between credit and debit of an account) · hu elfogulatlanság (awareness of both viewpoints) · nn saldo (difference between credit and debit of an account) · hy հաշվեկշիռ (accounting: list of credits and debits) · fr balancier (device that regulates the speed of a watch) · cmn 結存 /结存 (accounting: list of credits and debits) · lt likutis (difference between credit and debit of an account) · mk врамнотеженост (awareness of both viewpoints) · ja 中立 (awareness of both viewpoints) · it punto di equilibrio (mental equilibrium) · io bilanco (accounting: list of credits and debits) · cmn 餘額 /余额 (difference between credit and debit of an account) · pt equilíbrio (awareness of both viewpoints) · ar رَصِيد (accounting: list of credits and debits) · fr contrepoids (something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium) · de Saldo (difference between credit and debit of an account) · yo ìyókù (remainder) · ms baki (difference between credit and debit of an account) · fi loppuosa (remainder)