Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
balance

more about balance

balance


  7  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
 
 
  {To  turn  one's  coat},  to  change  one's  uniform  or  colors;  to 
  go  over  to  the  opposite  party. 
 
  {To  turn  one's  goods}  or  {money},  and  the  like  to  exchange 
  in  the  course  of  trade  to  keep  in  lively  exchange  or 
  circulation;  to  gain  or  increase  in  trade 
 
  {To  turn  one's  hand  to},  to  adapt  or  apply  one's  self  to  to 
  engage  in 
 
  {To  turn  out}. 
  a  To  drive  out  to  expel;  as  to  turn  a  family  out  of 
  doors;  to  turn  a  man  out  of  office. 
 
  I'll  turn  you  out  of  my  kingdom.  --  Shak. 
  b  to  put  to  pasture,  as  cattle  or  horses. 
  c  To  produce,  as  the  result  of  labor,  or  any  process  of 
  manufacture;  to  furnish  in  a  completed  state. 
  d  To  reverse,  as  a  pocket,  bag,  etc.,  so  as  to  bring  the 
  inside  to  the  outside;  hence  to  produce. 
  e  To  cause  to  cease,  or  to  put  out  by  turning  a 
  stopcock,  valve,  or  the  like  as  to  turn  out  the 
  lights. 
 
  {To  turn  over}. 
  a  To  change  or  reverse  the  position  of  to  overset;  to 
  overturn;  to  cause  to  roll  over 
  b  To  transfer;  as  to  turn  over  business  to  another 
  hand. 
  c  To  read  or  examine,  as  a  book,  while  turning  the 
  leaves.  ``We  turned  o'er  many  books  together.'' 
  --Shak. 
  d  To  handle  in  business;  to  do  business  to  the  amount 
  of  as  he  turns  over  millions  a  year.  [Colloq.] 
 
  {To  turn  over  a  new  leaf}.  See  under  {Leaf}. 
 
  {To  turn  tail},  to  run  away  to  retreat  ignominiously. 
 
  {To  turn  the  back},  to  flee;  to  retreat. 
 
  {To  turn  the  back  on}  or 
 
  {upon},  to  treat  with  contempt;  to  reject  or  refuse 
  unceremoniously. 
 
  {To  turn  the  corner},  to  pass  the  critical  stage;  to  get  by 
  the  worst  point;  hence  to  begin  to  improve,  or  to 
  succeed. 
 
  {To  turn  the  die}  or  {dice},  to  change  fortune. 
 
  {To  turn  the  edge}  or  {point  of},  to  bend  over  the  edge  or 
  point  of  so  as  to  make  dull;  to  blunt. 
 
  {To  turn  the  head}  or  {brain  of},  to  make  giddy,  wild, 
  insane,  or  the  like  to  infatuate;  to  overthrow  the  reason 
  or  judgment  of  as  a  little  success  turned  his  head. 
 
  {To  turn  the  scale}  or  {balance},  to  change  the 
  preponderance;  to  decide  or  determine  something  doubtful. 
 
 
  {To  turn  the  stomach  of},  to  nauseate;  to  sicken. 
 
  {To  turn  the  tables},  to  reverse  the  chances  or  conditions  of 
  success  or  superiority;  to  give  the  advantage  to  the 
  person  or  side  previously  at  a  disadvantage. 
 
  {To  turn  tippet},  to  make  a  change.  [Obs.]  --B.  Jonson 
 
  {To  turn  to}  {profit,  advantage},  etc.,  to  make  profitable  or 
  advantageous. 
 
  {To  turn  up}. 
  a  To  turn  so  as  to  bring  the  bottom  side  on  top  as  to 
  turn  up  the  trump. 
  b  To  bring  from  beneath  to  the  surface,  as  in  plowing, 
  digging,  etc 
  c  To  give  an  upward  curve  to  to  tilt;  as  to  turn  up 
  the  nose. 
 
  {To  turn  upon},  to  retort;  to  throw  back  as  to  turn  the 
  arguments  of  an  opponent  upon  himself. 
 
  {To  turn  upside  down},  to  confuse  by  putting  things  awry;  to 
  throw  into  disorder. 
 
  This  house  is  turned  upside  down  since  Robin  Ostler 
  died.  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Balance  \Bal"ance\,  n.  [OE.  balaunce,  F.  balance,  fr  L.  bilan?, 
  bilancis  having  two  scales;  bis  twice  (akin  to  E.  two)  + 
  lanx  plate,  scale.] 
  1.  An  apparatus  for  weighing. 
 
  Note:  In  its  simplest  form  a  balance  consists  of  a  beam  or 
  lever  supported  exactly  in  the  middle,  having  two 
  scales  or  basins  of  equal  weight  suspended  from  its 
  extremities.  Another  form  is  that  of  the  Roman  balance, 
  our  steelyard,  consisting  of  a  lever  or  beam,  suspended 
  near  one  of  its  extremities,  on  the  longer  arm  of  which 
  a  counterpoise  slides.  The  name  is  also  given  to  other 
  forms  of  apparatus  for  weighing  bodies,  as  to  the 
  combinations  of  levers  making  up  platform  scales;  and 
  even  to  devices  for  weighing  by  the  elasticity  of  a 
  spring. 
 
  2.  Act  of  weighing  mentally;  comparison;  estimate. 
 
  A  fair  balance  of  the  advantages  on  either  side 
  --Atterbury. 
 
  3.  Equipoise  between  the  weights  in  opposite  scales. 
 
  4.  The  state  of  being  in  equipoise;  equilibrium;  even 
  adjustment;  steadiness. 
 
  And  hung  a  bottle  on  each  side  To  make  his  balance 
  true.  --Cowper. 
 
  The  order  and  balance  of  the  country  were  destroyed. 
  --Buckle. 
 
  English  workmen  completely  lose  their  balance.  --J. 
  S.  Mill. 
 
  5.  An  equality  between  the  sums  total  of  the  two  sides  of  an 
  account;  as  to  bring  one's  accounts  to  a  balance;  -- 
  also  the  excess  on  either  side  as  the  balance  of  an 
  account.  ``  A  balance  at  the  banker's.  ''  --Thackeray. 
 
  I  still  think  the  balance  of  probabilities  leans 
  towards  the  account  given  in  the  text.  --J.  Peile. 
 
  6.  (Horol.)  A  balance  wheel,  as  of  a  watch,  or  clock.  See 
  {Balance  wheel}  (in  the  Vocabulary). 
 
  7.  (Astron.) 
  a  The  constellation  Libra. 
  b  The  seventh  sign  in  the  Zodiac,  called  Libra,  which 
  the  sun  enters  at  the  equinox  in  September. 
 
  8.  A  movement  in  dancing.  See  {Balance},  v.  i.,  S. 
 
  {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. 
  --Knight. 
 
  {Balance  fish}.  (Zo["o]l)  See  {Hammerhead}. 
 
  {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 
  indication  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. 
  [Obs.]  --Chaucer. 
 
  {To  strike  a  balance},  to  find  out  the  difference  between  the 
  debit  and  credit  sides  of  an  account. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Balance  \Bal"ance\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Balanced}  (?);  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Balancing}  (?).]  [From  {Balance},  n.:  cf  F. 
  balancer.  ] 
  1.  To  bring  to  an  equipoise,  as  the  scales  of  a  balance  by 
  adjusting  the  weights;  to  weigh  in  a  balance. 
 
  2.  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. 
 
  3.  To  equal  in  number,  weight,  force,  or  proportion;  to 
  counterpoise,  counterbalance,  counteract,  or  neutralize. 
 
  One  expression  .  .  .  must  check  and  balance  another. 
  --Kent. 
 
  4.  To  compare  in  relative  force,  importance,  value,  etc.;  to 
  estimate. 
 
  Balance  the  good  and  evil  of  things  --L'Estrange. 
 
  5.  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. 
 
  6.  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. 
 
  7.  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. 
 
  8.  (Dancing)  To  move  toward,  and  then  back  from 
  reciprocally;  as  to  balance  partners. 
 
  9.  (Naut.)  To  contract,  as  a  sail,  into  a  narrower  compass; 
  as  to  balance  the  boom  mainsail. 
 
  {Balanced  valve}.  See  {Balance  valve},  under  {Balance},  n. 
 
  Syn:  To  poise;  weigh;  adjust  counteract;  neutralize; 
  equalize. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Balance  \Bal"ance\,  v.  i. 
  1.  To  have  equal  weight  on  each  side  to  be  in  equipoise;  as 
  the  scales  balance. 
 
  2.  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. 
 
  3.  (Dancing)  To  move  toward  a  person  or  couple,  and  then 
  back 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Balance  wheel  \Bal"ance  wheel`\ 
  1.  (Horology) 
  a  A  wheel  which  regulates  the  beats  or  pulses  of  a  watch 
  or  chronometer,  answering  to  the  pendulum  of  a  clock; 
  --  often  called  simply  a  {balance}. 
  b  A  ratchet-shaped  scape  wheel,  which  in  some  watches  is 
  acted  upon  by  the  axis  of  the  balance  wheel  proper  (in 
  those  watches  called  a  balance). 
 
  2.  (Mach.)  A  wheel  which  imparts  regularity  to  the  movements 
  of  any  engine  or  machine;  a  fly  wheel. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  balance 
  n  1:  a  state  of  equilibrium  [ant:  {imbalance}] 
  2:  an  amount  on  the  credit  side  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 
  [syn:  {proportion}] 
  4:  equality  of  distribution  [syn:  {equilibrium},  {equipoise},  {counterbalance}] 
  5:  (mathematics)  an  attribute  of  a  shape;  exact  correspondence 
  of  form  on  opposite  sides  of  a  dividing  line  or  plane 
  [syn:  {symmetry},  {symmetricalness},  {correspondence}] 
  [ant:  {asymmetry}] 
  6:  an  equivalent  counterbalancing  weight  [syn:  {counterweight}, 
  {counterbalance},  {counterpoise},  {equalizer},  {equaliser}] 
  7:  a  scale  for  weighing;  depends  on  pull  of  gravity 
  v  1:  bring  into  balance  or  equilibrium  [syn:  {equilibrate},  {equilibrize}] 
  [ant:  {unbalance}] 
  2:  compute  credits  and  debits  of  an  account 
  3:  hold  or  carry  in  equilibrium  [syn:  {poise}] 
  4:  be  in  equilibrium;  "He  was  balancing  on  one  foot" 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Balance 
  occurs  in  Lev.  19:36  and  Isa.  46:6,  as  the  rendering  of  the 
  Hebrew  _kanch'_,  which  properly  means  "a  reed"  or  "a  cane,"  then 
  a  rod  or  beam  of  a  balance.  This  same  word  is  translated 
  "measuring  reed"  in  Ezek.  40:3,5;  42:16-18.  There  is  another 
  Hebrew  word  _mozena'yim_,  i.e.,  "two  poisers",  also  so  rendered 
  (Dan.  5:27).  The  balances  as  represented  on  the  most  ancient 
  Egyptian  monuments  resemble  those  now  in  use  A  "pair  of 
  balances"  is  a  symbol  of  justice  and  fair  dealing  (Job  31:6;  Ps 
  62:9;  Prov.  11:1).  The  expression  denotes  great  want  and 
  scarcity  in  Rev.  6:5. 
 




more about balance