balance

noun

point between two opposite forces that is desirable
ability to maintain the line of gravity of a body within the base of support with minimal postural sway
amount of money that remains in a deposit account
in game design, tuning a game's rules
equipoise between contrasting, opposing, or interacting elements; quantitative measure of the ratio between the aspects of an activity that must balance each other

L5820 on Wikidata ↗

verb

to steady under the influence of opposing forces

L761 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈbæləns/

name

Etymology: Calque of Latin Libra.

The constellation and zodiacal sign Libra.
“Libra, or the Balance holdeth in the Navel, the Reins, and the lower parts of the Womb.”
“The Balance shows redemption’s need; The Scorpion wounds He must endure; The Archer tells His coming sure; The Goat, His death in sacrifice[.]”

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Italic *dwi- Latin bi- Latin lanx Latin bilanx Vulgar Latin *bilancia Old French balancebor. Middle English balaunce English balance From Middle English balaunce, from Old French balance, from Late Latin *bilancia, from (accusative form of) Latin bilanx (“two-scaled”), from bi- + lanx (“plate, scale”). Displaced the word — Old English wǣġ akin to Modern English: wey from Proto-West Germanic *wāgu (“scales; weight”).

A state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium.
“But civilized man is quite a different animal, and when he wipes out an entire city or levels a forest, he is no longer working within the natural balance of things.”
Mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed.
Something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium; counterweight.
“These weights are used as a balance for the overhanging verandah.”
“Blair thought he could provide a useful balance to Bush's policies.”
A pair of scales.
Awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity.
The overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.; the influence which ultimately "weighs" more than others.
“The balance of power finally lay with the Royalist forces.”
“I think the balance of opinion is that we should get out while we're ahead.”
Apparent harmony in art (between differing colours, sounds, etc.).
A list accounting for the debits on one side, and for the credits on the other.
The result of such a procedure; the difference between credit and debit of an account.
“I just need to nip to a bank and check my balance.”
A device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc.
The remainder.
“The balance of the agreement remains in effect.”
“The invoice said he had only paid $50. The balance was $220.”
Libra.

verb

To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights.
To make (concepts) agree.
“the Proteus Principle helps to qualify and balance the concepts of narrators and of narrative situations as previously developed in classical studies by G erard Genette and Franz Stanzel.”
To hold (an object or objects) precariously; to support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling.
“I balanced my mug of coffee on my knee.”
“The circus performer balances a plate on the end of a baton.”
To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.
“Ballance the Good and Evil of Things.”
“Mr. Morrison's ruling to reopen the station as a shelter was given after he had balanced the relative dangers of flooding and bombing.”
To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally.
“to balance partners”
To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass.
“to balance the boom mainsail”
To make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond.
“to balance a set of books”
“This final payment, or credit, balances the account.”
To be in equilibrium.
To have matching credits and debits.
To weigh in a balance.
To hesitate or fluctuate.