balance

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. equilibrium, steadiness, stability; surplus, excess, rest, remainder; scales. —v. offset, even, square; equalize, level, adjust; equal, match. See equality, compensation, symmetry, mean, gravity, accounting.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [Whatever remains]

Syn. remainder, excess, surplus, amount due; see remainder .

2. [An equilibrium]

Syn. equipoise, poise, counterpoise, equilibrium, symmetry, antithesis, offset, equivalence, counterbalance, tension, equalization, equality of weight, parity; see also symmetry .

Ant. imbalance*, lopsidedness, topheaviness.

3. [An excess of credits over debits]

Syn. credit balance, surplus, dividend, profit, cash on hand, available funds.

4. [A balance scale]

Syn. steelyard, spring balance, scales; see scale 3 .

5. [Judgment]

Syn. perspective, discretion, insight, steadiness; see judgment 1 , stability 1 , 2 .

See Synonym Study at remainder , symmetry .

• in the balance,

Syn. undetermined, undecided, critical; uncertain 2 .

• off balance,

Syn. unbalanced, tipsy, eccentric; see irregular 1 , 4 , unsteady 1 .

v.

1. [To offset]

Syn. equipoise, counterpoise, counterbalance; see offset .

2. [To place in balance]

Syn. poise, oppose, place in equilibrium, steady, stabilize, neutralize, set, level, equalize, support, equilibrate, even, weigh, counteract, make equal, make level, make steady, compensate, tie, adjust, square, nullify, parallel, cancel, coordinate, readjust, equate, trim, match, level off, pair off, restore, attune, harmonize, tune, countervail, accord, correspond.

Ant. topple, upset*, turn over.

3. [To demonstrate that debits and credits are in balance]

Syn. estimate, compare, account (for), count, compute, prove, adjust, settle, make up, strike a balance, take a trial balance, tell, audit, calculate, enumerate, equate, square, tally, total, reckon, take stock, sum up; see also check 3 .

4. [To compare as to relative importance or value]

Syn. weigh, evaluate, ponder; see compare 1 , consider 1 , 3 .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

1. equilibrium parity, equity, equalization, symmetry, correspondence, equipoise, equality.

2. mental stability composure, self-control, poise, *cool head, stability.

ANT.: 1. imbalance, inequality. 2. instability, irrationality

II

v.

1. to make equal equalize, counterpoise, stabilize, level, counteract, equilibrate, steady, match, offset, *walk a fine line, *level the playing field.

2. compare consider, differentiate, weigh, contrast, evaluate.

3. account square, debit, credit, tally, audit, compute, calculate, sum up.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I noun 1. A stable state characterized by the cancellation of all forces by equal opposing forces: counterpoise, equilibrium, equipoise, stasis. See ORDER. 2. A stable, calm state of the emotions: aplomb, collectedness, composure, coolness, equanimity, imperturbability, imperturbableness, nonchalance, poise, sang-froid, self-possession, unflappability. Slang: cool. See CALM, FEELINGS. 3. Satisfying arrangement marked by even distribution of elements, as in a design: harmony, proportion, symmetry. See BEAUTIFUL. 4. What remains after a part has been used or subtracted: leavings, leftover, remainder, remains, remnant, residue, rest2. See LEFTOVER. II verb 1. To examine in order to note the similarities and differences of: collate, compare. See SAME. 2. To put in balance: counterbalance, equalize, stabilize, steady. See ORDER. 3. To act as an equalizing weight or force to: compensate, counteract, counterbalance, counterpoise, countervail, make up, offset, set off. See ORDER. 4. To make up for: compensate, counterbalance, counterpoise, countervail, neutralize, offset, outweigh, redeem, set off. See SUBSTITUTE. 5. To place or be placed on a narrow or insecure surface: perch, poise. See POSTURE.