Balance \Bal"ance\ (b[a^]l"ans), n. [OE. balaunce, F. balance, fr. L. bilanx, 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. t., 8.
{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 inclination 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.
Balance \Bal"ance\ (b[a^]l"ans), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Balanced} (b[a^]l"anst); p. pr. & vb. n. {Balancing} (b[a^]l"an*s[i^]ng).] [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.
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.
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.
Amsterdam closed higher on balance in generally modest volume under the pull of the higher dollar and buoyant earnings reported so far this month by some major Dutch companies.
Nearly 70 per cent did not know the rate charged on their card, and only 15 per cent guessed in the correct range of 22-25 per cent. The survey found that around 37 per cent of card holders do not pay off their balance in full each month.
Some analysts predict a minority government in the next election, with the New Democrats holding the balance of power.
Ball expects to use debt to finance most of its 50% stake in the venture, and Onex Packaging already carries of about C$110 million of debt on its balance sheet.
Prodded by the parent company to accelerate its growth, the unit aggressively expanded into real estate lending and junk bond financing in the 1980s and hoped the expansion would balance out the company's more cyclical businesses.
It added that it is confident, under current market conditions, that it can arrange a syndicate of other banks to provide the balance of senior debt financing required for the bid.
Griffin will own the existing Resorts International Hotel Casino, the balance of the company's real estate in Atlantic City, its casino properties in the Bahamas and other corporate assets.
I believe its approach puts undue emphasis on the balance sheet, to the detriment of the profit and loss account, and to the disadvantage of users of accounts. The board has now published all but one of the chapters of its draft statement of principles.
For Japan's trade with the Common Market and Asian countries, the gold factor makes less difference, but again the trend is to balance.
With the hole in balance sheets large and earnings already low, the stock market would look even more vulnerable. Given that the likely alternative is the threat of trade sanctions, the Japanese financial system is in a tough spot.
Adding to the nervousness was concern over the report due tomorrow on last month's merchandise trade balance.
The steady improvement of the balance sheet since the buy-out has allowed RJR Nabisco to shed its 'highly leveraged transaction' status, winning access to cheaper bank finance.
Under the proposed transaction, the new company, Brown & Root Vickers Ltd. would be 70%-owned by Brown & Root Ltd.; the balance would be owned by Vickers, which owns the Rolls Royce car manufacturer and medical equipment, defense and marine units.
And nothing would prove that as much as a rapid reduction in Salomon's balance sheet through sales of securities.
The account balance remains on the branch's books, even though the deposits are moved to the private bank. The double counting is washed out at some point further down the accounting stream.
With exports up only 5% but imports climbing 19%, Korea's trade balance swung into a deficit for the first eight months of this year.
Its stubborn refusal to reveal the state of its balance sheet yesterday - hardly the standard of disclosure one might expect from a large institutional investor -suggests an unusual degree of sensitivity.
The court, without comment, let stand a ruling that upheld the black man's promotion to help achieve better racial balance within the fire department.
It will take more than a big miscalculation of the UK balance of payments figures to trip up the slick-willies at the new-look Central Statistical Office.
The group's total balance sheet was reduced from FFr239.4bn to FFr218.2bn. The cover rate on its sovereign risks was raised from 51 per cent to 60 per cent.
Coleco also announced Wednesday that it had hired Hallwood Group Inc. to help it restructure its balance sheet and provide working capital.
The winner of the primary will face independent candidate Alderman Timothy Evans and the Republican candidate chosen in the GOP primary in an April 4 special election to serve the two-year balance of the late Mayor Harold Washington's unfinished term.
The head of a Temple University group that advocates "white pride" says the organization isn't racist, but was formed to balance the "pro-minority" stance taken by school officials.
The balance on investment earnings shifted into a surplus of $2.46 billion, reflecting improved earnings by Americans on their overseas investments.
Yesterday's consumer credit data show the recovery is taking hold, but the balance of payments is too fragile to sustain consumer-led growth for long.
There is a strong incentive for banks to remove non-performing mortgages from their balance sheets, since they require twice as much capital.
Some advertisers seek to balance what they call biased news coverage.
Mr Furuichi says this year MCA profits are expected to climb by double digits, yet to make short-term financial sense, growth in triple digits would be required. The cost of the acquisition has weighed heavily on Matsushita's balance sheet.
The balance of trade with north America was nonetheless healthier than a year ago. The deficit with Western Europe excluding the EC also widened.
It meant that instead of answering questions about why Congress didn't prevent the savings and loan scandal, or why it can't balance the budget, lawmakers were in sudden demand as local experts on foreign policy.