Counterbalance
['kaʊntə,bæl(ə)ns] or [,kaʊntɚ'bæləns]
Definition
(v. t.) To oppose with an equal weight or power; to counteract the power or effect of; to countervail; to equiponderate; to balance.
(n.) A weight, power, or agency, acting against or balancing another
(n.) A mass of metal in one side of a driving wheel or fly wheel, to balance the weight of a crank pin, etc., on the opposite side of the wheel
(n.) A counterpoise to balance the weight of anything, as of a drawbridge or a scale beam.
Checker: Wilbur
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. a. [1]. Counterpoise, balance.[2]. Countervail, compensate, set off, make up for.
Typist: Michael
Examples
- He had no weapon, excepting a poniard at his belt, which served to counterbalance the weight of the bunch of rusty keys that hung at his right side. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- No incitement to the attention of the sovereign can ever counterbalance the smallest discouragement to that of the landlord. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- With these I deal not, he continued, holding the train of her robe--it is thee only I address; and what can counterbalance thy choice? Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- The nature of those circumstances is such, that they make up for a small pecuniary gain in some, and counterbalance a great one in others. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Van Elvean, also of England, in 1858 invented counterbalance weights for such lifts. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- And, secondly, this bad policy is not in those countries counterbalanced by the general liberty and security of the people. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- This not only guided the flight of the machine, but counterbalanced the changes of the centre of air-pressure. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- The car is connected to wire cables passing over large sheaves at the top of the well room to a counterbalancing bucket. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
Inputed by Deborah