balance meaning and definition

BALANCE noun

Definition of balance (noun)

1. a state of equilibrium
   • antonym: imbalance
2. equality between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account
3. 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
   • synonyms: proportion, proportionality
4. equality of distribution
   • synonyms: counterbalance, equilibrium, equipoise
5. something left after other parts have been taken away
   • "there was no remainder"; "he threw away the rest"; "he took what he wanted and I got the balance"
   • synonyms: remainder, residual, residue, residuum, rest
6. the difference between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account
7. (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Libra
   • synonyms: Libra
8. the seventh sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about September 23 to October 22
   • synonyms: Libra, Libra the Balance, Libra the Scales
9. (mathematics) an attribute of a shape or relation; exact reflection of form on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane
   • synonyms: correspondence, symmetricalness, symmetry
   • antonym: asymmetry
10. a weight that balances another weight
    • synonyms: counterbalance, counterpoise, counterweight, equaliser, equalizer
11. a wheel that regulates the rate of movement in a machine; especially a wheel oscillating against the hairspring of a timepiece to regulate its beat
    • synonyms: balance wheel
12. a scale for weighing; depends on pull of gravity

BALANCE verb

Definition of balance (verb)

1. bring into balance or equilibrium
   • "She has to balance work and her domestic duties"; "balance the two weights"
   • synonyms: equilibrate, equilibrise, equilibrize
   • antonym: unbalance
2. compute credits and debits of an account
3. hold or carry in equilibrium
   • synonyms: poise
4. be in equilibrium
   • "He was balancing on one foot"