0 a state where things are of equal weight or force:
The toddler wobbled and lost his balance (= started to fall sideways).
She had to hold onto the railings to keep her balance (= to stop herself from falling).
New tax measures are designed to redress the balance (= make the situation more equal) between rich and poor.
We must strike a balance between reckless spending and penny-pinching (= try to have something between these two things).
1 a device used for weighing things, consisting of two dishes hanging on a bar that shows when the contents of both dishes weigh the same
2 the amount of money you have in a bank account, or the amount of something that you have left after you have spent or used up the rest:
3 to be in a position where you will stand without falling to either side, or to put something in this position:
The flamingos balanced gracefully on one leg.
She balanced a huge pot effortlessly on her head and walked down to the river.
I struggle to balance work and family commitments.
Stringent measures were introduced so that the government could balance its budget/the economy.
If the business loses any more money, we won't be able to balance the books this year.
4 the condition of someone or something in which its weight is equally divided so that it can stay in one position or be under control while moving:
5 a situation in which two opposing forces have or are given the same power:
As a journalist, you try to strike a balance between serious reporting and the temptation to say clever things.
6 the amount of money you have in a bank account or an amount of money owed:
7 to make something stay in one position by having its weight equally divided:
8 to put opposing forces into a position in which neither controls the other:
I had to balance the children’s needs against my own.
9 the difference in the amount of money that has come into and gone out of a bank account in a particular period:
10 the amount shown in a company's financial records that is the difference between the total credits and the total debits in a particular account:
This balance is then transferred to the profit and loss account.
11 the amount of money that you still owe after you have paid a part of the total amount:
Cut your outstanding mortgage balance and your monthly repayments will also come down.
12 the amount of money that you owe on a credit card account:
14 the state where things exist in equal amounts or are of equal importance:
15 to arrange a system of accounts so that the amount of money spent is no more than the amount received:
16 if an account balances, the amounts of money on the credit and debit sides are equal:
He had made some kind of computation error and the account didn't balance.
17 to spend only as much money as you have received, or planned to spend:
18 to be equal in amount or value, or to make things equal in amount or value:
19 to give two or more things equal amounts of importance, time, or money so that a situation is successful:
I struggle to balance work and family commitments.
20 a situation in which a person tries to give equal amounts of importance to two or more things so that a situation is successful:
Outsourcing decisions are essentially a balancing act between the benefits of markets, lower production costs, and higher transaction costs.
Teachers need to strike a delicate balance between instructing their pupils and letting them discover things for themselves.
Most managers, politicians and bosses are men - how can women redress the balance ?
The shift in the balance of power in the region has had far-reaching consequences.
Her suitcase was precariously balanced on the tiny luggage rack above her head.
The wine has just enough dryness to balance its fruitiness.
中文繁体
相等, 平衡, (樂音的)平衡,安排與調整…
More中文简体
相等, 平衡, (乐音的)平衡,安排与调整…
MoreEspañol
equilibrio, saldo, término medio…
MorePortuguês
equilíbrio, saldo, balanço…
More日本語
(重さの)均衡, バランス, (収支の)差額…
MoreTürk dili
denge, dengeli oran, dağıtım…
MoreFrançais
équilibre [masculine], équilibre, solde [masculine] (d’un compte)…
MoreCatalan
equilibri, saldo, terme mitjà…
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