counterbalance
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L318733 on Wikidata ↗verb
- to oppose or balance with an equal weight or force
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˌkaʊntəˈbæləns/ / /ˌkaʊntɚˈbæləns/
noun
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Italic *-teros Proto-Italic *komterosder. Proto-Italic *komterād Latin contrāder. Old French contre- Anglo-Norman countre-bor. Middle English counter- English counter- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Italic *dwi- Latin bi- Latin lanx Latin bilanx Vulgar Latin *bilancia Old French balancebor. Middle English balaunce English balance English counterbalance From counter- + balance.
- A weight that is put in opposition to an equal weight so it keeps that in balance.
- A force or influence that balances, checks or limits an opposite one.
verb
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Italic *-teros Proto-Italic *komterosder. Proto-Italic *komterād Latin contrāder. Old French contre- Anglo-Norman countre-bor. Middle English counter- English counter- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Italic *dwi- Latin bi- Latin lanx Latin bilanx Vulgar Latin *bilancia Old French balancebor. Middle English balaunce English balance English counterbalance From counter- + balance.
- To apply weight in order to balance an opposing weight.
“Big brother counterbalances his two siblings to the pound.”
“[…] the remaining Air was not able to counterballance the Mercurial Cylinder, […]”
- To match or equal in effect when applying opposing force.
“Arm wrestling is undecided as long as the opponents counterbalance each other.”
“The defenders' knowledge of the terrain roughly counterbalances the attackers' superior equipment.”