Balance

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.

Balance fish
(Zool) See Hammerhead. - Knight.

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 inclination 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.

To strike a balance
to find out the difference between the debit and credit sides of an account. - Chaucer.

v. t.

To bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights; to weigh in a balance.

[imp. & p. p. Balanced (băl"anst); p. pr. & vb. n. Balancing (băl"an*sĭng).]

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.

To equal in number, weight, force, or proportion; to counterpoise, counterbalance, counteract, or neutralize.

One expression . . . must check and balance another.

- Kent.

To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.

Balance the good and evil of things.

- L'Estrange.

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.

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.

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.

(Dancing) To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally; as, to balance partners.

(Naut.) To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass; as, to balance the boom mainsail.

Balanced valve
See Balance valve, under Balance, n.

v. i.

To have equal weight on each side; to be in equipoise; as, the scales balance.

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.

(Dancing) To move toward a person or couple, and then back.

Related Words

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Bakery
Baking
Baking powder
Bakingly
Bakistre
Baksheesh
bakshis
bakshish
Balaam
Balaam basket or box
Balachong
balaclava
Balaena
Balaeniceps
Balaenicipitidae
Balaenidae
Balaenoidea
Balaenoptera
Balaenopteridae
balalaika
-Balance-
Balance dock
Balance electrometer
Balance fish
Balance knife
Balance of power
Balance of torsion
Balance of trade
Balance rudder
Balance sheet
Balance thermometer
Balance valve
Balance wheel
Balanceable
balanced
Balanced valve
Balancement
Balancer
Balancereef
Balaniferous
Balanite

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