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- pronunciation:
- bae
l
 ns
- parts of speech:
- noun, transitive verb, intransitive verb
- phrases:
- hang in the balance, keep one's balance, lose one's balance
- features:
- Word Combinations (noun, verb), Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
a state in which opposing forces are equal.
It's a challenge to keep the demands of work and the demands of family in balance.- synonyms:
- equilibrium, equipoise, parity
- antonyms:
- imbalance
- similar words:
- equivalence, equivalency, poise, symmetry
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| definition 2: |
physical or mental stability, or the capacity to reach stability when required.
The skier's balance was off in that last move, and it caused her to slide.It's been hard for him to regain his balance since the death of his wife.Good balance is a requirement for figure skating.
- synonyms:
- composure, equanimity, equilibrium, steadiness
- antonyms:
- instability
- similar words:
- aplomb, poise, prudence, rationality, reason, sanity, self-control, stability
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| definition 3: |
a device for weighing; scales.
- synonyms:
- scales
- similar words:
- measure, steelyard
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| definition 4: |
that which remains or is left over.
What is the balance in our checking account right now?I finally paid off the balance on our credit cards.- synonyms:
- remainder, residue, residuum
- similar words:
- credit, excess, remnant, rest, surplus
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| related words: |
credit, difference, elegance, equilibrium, harmony, mind, net, proportion, trim, true, wit |
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| phrase: |
hang in the balance, keep one's balance, lose one's balance |
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| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
balances, balancing, balanced |
| definition 1: |
to bring into or hold in a state of equilibrium.
The clown balanced several plates on his head while riding a unicycle.The acrobat appeared to be about to fall off the wire, but she easily balanced herself.- synonyms:
- equilibrate, poise, stabilize
- antonyms:
- unbalance
- similar words:
- align, arrange, coordinate, equalize, harmonize, level, proportion, steady
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| definition 2: |
to weigh mentally by comparing.
She balanced the pros and cons in her mind.- synonyms:
- weigh
- similar words:
- appraise, assess, compare, deliberate, estimate, evaluate, ponder, rate
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| definition 3: |
to calculate the difference between the credits and debits of (an account).
This chart makes it easy to balance your checking account.- similar words:
- add up, calculate, compute, figure, reconcile, sum up, tally, total
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| related words: |
chime, compensate, even, offset, oppose, redeem, regard, regulate, trim |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition: |
to be in or come into a state of balance.
The acrobats balanced on each other's shoulders.- synonyms:
- equilibrate
- similar words:
- adapt, adjust, agree, correspond, countervail, match, neutralize, poise, settle, stabilize, steady, tally
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| related words: |
break even, coordinate, even, level |
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Balance is from an early French word that means "having two plates or scales."
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