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balance

Pronunciation: /ˈbal(ə)ns/

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Definition of balance

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady:she lost her balance and fell
  • Sailing the ability of a boat to stay on course without adjustment of the rudder.
  • 2 [mass noun] a situation in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions:the obligations of political balance in broadcasting [in singular]:try to keep a balance between work and relaxation
  • mental or emotional stability:the way to some kind of peace and personal balance
  • the relative volume of various sources of sound:the balance of the voices is good
  • Art harmony of design and proportion.
  • 3an apparatus for weighing, especially one with a central pivot, beam, and two scales.
  • (the Balance) the zodiacal sign or constellation Libra.
  • 4a counteracting weight or force.
  • (also balance wheel) the regulating device in a clock or watch.
  • 5 [mass noun] a predominating amount; a preponderance:the balance of opinion was that work was more important than leisure
  • 6a figure representing the difference between credits and debits in an account; the amount of money held in an account:he accumulated a healthy balance with the savings bank
  • the difference between an amount due and an amount paid:the holiday balance must be paid by 8 weeks before departure
  • [in singular] an amount left over.

verb

[with object]
  • 1put (something) in a steady position so that it does not fall:a mug that she balanced on her knee
  • [no object] remain in a steady position without falling:Richard balanced on the ball of one foot
  • 2offset or compare the value of (one thing) with another:the cost of obtaining such information needs to be balanced against its benefits
  • counteract or equal the effect or importance of:he balanced his radical remarks with more familiar declarations
  • establish equal or appropriate proportions of elements in:policies that help women balance work and family life
  • 3compare debits and credits in (an account) so as to ensure that they are equal:the law requires the council to balance its books each year
  • [no object] (of an account) have credits and debits equal: a surplus on the capital account to make the account balance

Phrases

balance of payments

the difference in total value between payments into and out of a country over a period: [as modifier]:a balance-of-payments deficit

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 trade

the difference in value between a country’s imports and exports: a country with a worsening balance of trade in manufactured products

in the balance

in an uncertain or critical state:his survival hung in the balance for days

on balance

when all factors are taken into consideration:on balance, he was pleased with how things had gone

strike a balance

choose a moderate course: she’s decided to strike a balance between fashionable and accessible

Derivatives

balancer

noun

Origin:

Middle English (in balance (sense 3 of the noun)): from Old French balance (noun), balancer (verb), based on late Latin (libra) bilanx '(balance) having two scale pans', from bi- 'twice, having two' + lanx 'scale pan'

balance in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of balance in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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