balance

== English == === Alternative forms === balaunce (obsolete) === Etymology === 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”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbæləns/ Rhymes: -æləns === Noun === balance (countable and uncountable, plural balances) (uncountable) A state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium. (uncountable) Mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed. (literally or figuratively) Something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium; counterweight. A pair of scales. (uncountable) Awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity. (uncountable) The overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.; the influence which ultimately "weighs" more than others. (uncountable) Apparent harmony in art (between differing colours, sounds, etc.). (accounting) A list accounting for the debits on one side, and for the credits on the other. (accounting) The result of such a procedure; the difference between credit and debit of an account. (watchmaking) A device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc. (law, business, statistics) The remainder. (obsolete, astrology) Libra. ==== Synonyms ==== (scales): pair of scales, set of scales, scales, weighing machine, weighbridge (for vehicles) (equilibrium): equilibrium (support for both viewpoints): disinterest, even-handedness, fairness, impartiality, neutrality, nonpartisanship (list of credits and debits): account ==== Antonyms ==== (antonym(s) of “equilibrium”): nonequilibrium, imbalance, unbalance (antonym(s) of “support for both viewpoints”): bias, favor/favour, partiality, partisanship, prejudice, unfairness ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === balance (third-person singular simple present balances, present participle balancing, simple past and past participle balanced) (transitive) To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights. (transitive, figurative) To make (concepts) agree. (transitive) To hold (an object or objects) precariously; to support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling. (transitive) To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate. (transitive, dance) To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally. (nautical) To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass. (transitive) To make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond. (intransitive) To be in equilibrium. (intransitive) To have matching credits and debits. (transitive, obsolete) To weigh in a balance. (intransitive, obsolete) To hesitate or fluctuate. ==== Conjugation ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === belacan == Danish == === Etymology === Via French balance, from Latin bilanx. === Noun === balance c (singular definite balancen, plural indefinite balancer) balance (accounting) a balance sheet ==== Declension ==== ==== Antonyms ==== ubalance ==== Derived terms ==== ==== See also ==== harmoni === References === “balance” in Den Danske Ordbog == French == === Etymology === Inherited from Middle French balance, from Old French balance, from Vulgar Latin *bilancia, from Latin bilanx, from bi- (see Latin bis) and lanx. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ba.lɑ̃s/ === Noun === balance f (plural balances) scales (clarification of this definition is needed (plural because it's a pair of scales?).) (chemistry, physics) balance (clarification of this definition is needed (what is the hard science definition?).) (economics, electricity, politics) balance (clarification of this definition is needed (what is the social science definition?).) (fishing) drop-net (slang) informant, snitch (Louisiana) the rest, the remainder (Louisiana) a scale, more specifically a balancing scale ==== Derived terms ==== mettre en balance peser dans la balance ==== Related terms ==== balancer balançoire ==== Descendants ==== → Romanian: balanță → Russian: бала́нс (baláns) → Spanish: balance → Ukrainian: бала́нс (baláns) === Verb === balance inflection of balancer: first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive second-person singular imperative === Further reading === “balance”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 === Anagrams === bancale == Latin == === Noun === balance ablative singular of balanx == Middle English == === Noun === balance alternative form of balaunce == Middle French == === Alternative forms === ballance, balanche, balence === Etymology === From Old French balance, from Vulgar Latin *bilancia, from Latin bilanx. === Noun === balance f (plural balances) scales (weighing scales) (figurative) arbitrator ==== Descendants ==== French: balance→ Romanian: balanță→ Russian: бала́нс (baláns)→ Spanish: balance→ Ukrainian: бала́нс (baláns) === References === balance on Dictionnaire du Moyen Français (1330–1500) (in French) == Old French == === Etymology === From Vulgar Latin *bilancia, from Latin bilanx. === Noun === balance oblique singular, f (oblique plural balances, nominative singular balance, nominative plural balances) scales (weighing scales) ==== Descendants ==== Middle French: balance, ballance, balanche, balenceFrench: balance→ Romanian: balanță→ Russian: бала́нс (baláns)→ Spanish: balance→ Ukrainian: бала́нс (baláns) Norman: balanche → Middle English: balaunce, ballaunce, balance, balaunse, balans, belaunceEnglish: balanceScots: ballance === References === Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IXe au XVe siècle (1881) (balance) == Portuguese == === Verb === balance inflection of balançar: first/third-person singular present subjunctive third-person singular imperative == Spanish == === Etymology === Borrowed from French balance, from Late Latin *bilancia. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /baˈlanθe/ [baˈlãn̟.θe] (Spain) IPA(key): /baˈlanse/ [baˈlãn.se] (Latin America, Philippines) Rhymes: -anθe (Spain) Rhymes: -anse (Latin America, Philippines) Syllabification: ba‧lan‧ce === Noun === balance m (plural balances) balance; weighing up 1988, Mecano, Un año más (written by Nacho Cano) (accounting) balance Synonym: saldo === Further reading === “balance”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025 === Anagrams === cablean