Definition: balance
Source: WordNet (r) 1.7
balance
n 1: a state of equilibrium [ant: imbalance]
2: a scale for weighing; depends on pull of gravity
3: an amount on the credit side of an account
4: 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
[syn: proportion]
5: equality of distribution [syn: equilibrium, equipoise, counterbalance]
6: (mathematics) an attribute of a shape; exact correspondence
of form on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane
[syn: symmetry, symmetricalness, correspondence]
[ant: asymmetry]
7: an equivalent counterbalancing weight [syn: counterweight,
counterbalance, counterpoise, equalizer, equaliser]
v 1: bring into balance or equilibrium; "She has to balance work
and her domestic duties"; "balance the two weights"
[syn: equilibrate, equilibrize] [ant: unbalance]
2: compute credits and debits of an account
3: hold or carry in equilibrium [syn: poise]
4: be in equilibrium; "He was balancing on one foot"
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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. ``We turned o'er many books together.'' --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.
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. `` A balance at the banker's. '' --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["o]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.
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.
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.
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.
Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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.
