Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

equilibrium

Syllabification: (e·qui·lib·ri·um)
Pronunciation: /ˌēkwəˈlibrēəm, ˌekwə-/

Translate equilibrium | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of equilibrium

noun (plural equilibria /-ˈlibrēə/)

  • a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced:the maintenance of social equilibrium
  • a state of physical balance:I stumbled over a rock and recovered my equilibrium
  • a calm state of mind:his intensity could unsettle his equilibrium
  • Chemistry a state in which a process and its reverse are occurring at equal rates so that no overall change is taking place:ice is in equilibrium with water
  • Economics a situation in which supply and demand are matched and prices stable.

Derivatives

equilibrial

Pronunciation: /-ˈlibrēəl/

adjective

Origin:

early 17th century (in the sense 'well-balanced state of mind'): from Latin aequilibrium, from aequi- 'equal'+ libra 'balance'

equilibrium in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of equilibrium in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite

More words in this category

Word of the day

merrythought

/ ˈmerēˌTHôt /
noun
the wishbone of a bird …