balance
♦♦ bal|ance /b'æləns/ (balances balancing balanced)
1 [VERB] V prep/adv, V n prep/adv
If you balance something somewhere, or if it balances there, it remains steady and does not fall.
I balanced on the ledge...
He balanced a football on his head.
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
Balance is the ability to remain steady when you are standing up.
The medicines you are currently taking could be affecting your balance.
3 [V-RECIP] V n with n, V pl-n, pl-n V, also V with n
If you balance one thing with something different, each of the things has the same strength or importance.
Balance spicy dishes with mild ones...
The state has got to find some way to balance these two needs...
Supply and demand on the currency market will generally balance.
● balanced [ADJ] usu adv ADJ
This book is a well balanced biography.
4 [N-SING] with supp, oft N between pl-n
A balance is a situation in which all the different parts are equal in strength or importance.
Their marriage is a delicate balance between traditional and contemporary values...
...the ecological balance of the forest.
5 [N-SING] the N
If you say that the balance tips in your favour, you start winning or succeeding, especially in a conflict or contest.
...a powerful new gun which could tip the balance of the war in their favour...
6 [VERB] V n against n
If you balance one thing against another, you consider its importance in relation to the other one.
She carefully tried to balance religious sensitivities against democratic freedom.
7 [VERB] V n
If someone balances their budget or if a government balances the economy of a country, they make sure that the amount of money that is spent is not greater than the amount that is received.
He balanced his budgets by rigid control over public expenditure.
8 [VERB] V n, V
If you balance your books or make them balance, you prove by calculation that the amount of money you have received is equal to the amount that you have spent.
...teaching them to balance the books...
To make the books balance, spending must fall and taxes must rise.
9 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
The balance in your bank account is the amount of money you have in it.
I'd like to check the balance in my account please.
10 [N-SING] the N
The balance of an amount of money is what remains to be paid for something or what remains when part of the amount has been spent.
They were due to pay the balance on delivery.
= remainder
11
see also bank balance
12 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
If something hangs in the balance, it is uncertain whether it will happen or continue.
The fate of a project which could revolutionise the use of computers in hospitals hangs in the balance.
13 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you keep your balance, for example when standing in a moving vehicle, you remain steady and do not fall over. If you lose your balance, you become unsteady and fall over.
14 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
If you are off balance, you are in an unsteady position and about to fall.
A gust of wind knocked him off balance and he fell face down in the mud.
15 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you are thrown off balance by something, you are surprised or confused by it.
She was trying to behave as if his visit hadn't thrown her off balance.
16 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
You can say on balance to indicate that you are stating an opinion after considering all the relevant facts or arguments.
On balance he agreed with Christine.bal|ance of pay|ments (balances of payments)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
A country's balance of payments is the difference, over a period of time, between the payments it makes to other countries for imports and the payments it receives from other countries for exports. (BUSINESS)
Britain's balance of payments deficit has improved slightly.bal|ance of pow|er
[N-SING]
The balance of power is the way in which power is distributed between rival groups or countries.
...changes in the balance of power between the United States and Europe.bal|ance of trade (balances of trade)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
A country's balance of trade is the difference in value, over a period of time, between the goods it imports and the goods it exports. (BUSINESS)
The deficit in Britain's balance of trade in March rose to more than 2100 million pounds.balance out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), also V n P
If two or more opposite things balance out or if you balance them out, they become equal in amount, value, or effect.
Outgoings and revenues balanced out...
The strenuous exercise undergone could balance out the increased calories.bal|ance sheet (balance sheets)
[N-COUNT]
A balance sheet is a written statement of the amount of money and property that a company or person has, including amounts of money that are owed or are owing. Balance sheet is also used to refer to the general financial state of a company. (BUSINESS)
Rolls-Royce needed a strong balance sheet.bank bal|ance (bank balances)
[N-COUNT]
Your bank balance is the amount of money that you have in your bank account at a particular time.work-life bal|ance
[N-UNCOUNT]
Your work-life balance is how you organize your days, for example how many hours you spend at work, and how much time you spend with friends or doing things you enjoy.
Senior managers stipulated work-life balance as their main criterion when choosing jobs.
1 [VERB] V prep/adv, V n prep/adv
If you balance something somewhere, or if it balances there, it remains steady and does not fall.
I balanced on the ledge...
He balanced a football on his head.
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
Balance is the ability to remain steady when you are standing up.
The medicines you are currently taking could be affecting your balance.
3 [V-RECIP] V n with n, V pl-n, pl-n V, also V with n
If you balance one thing with something different, each of the things has the same strength or importance.
Balance spicy dishes with mild ones...
The state has got to find some way to balance these two needs...
Supply and demand on the currency market will generally balance.
● balanced [ADJ] usu adv ADJ
This book is a well balanced biography.
4 [N-SING] with supp, oft N between pl-n
A balance is a situation in which all the different parts are equal in strength or importance.
Their marriage is a delicate balance between traditional and contemporary values...
...the ecological balance of the forest.
5 [N-SING] the N
If you say that the balance tips in your favour, you start winning or succeeding, especially in a conflict or contest.
...a powerful new gun which could tip the balance of the war in their favour...
6 [VERB] V n against n
If you balance one thing against another, you consider its importance in relation to the other one.
She carefully tried to balance religious sensitivities against democratic freedom.
7 [VERB] V n
If someone balances their budget or if a government balances the economy of a country, they make sure that the amount of money that is spent is not greater than the amount that is received.
He balanced his budgets by rigid control over public expenditure.
8 [VERB] V n, V
If you balance your books or make them balance, you prove by calculation that the amount of money you have received is equal to the amount that you have spent.
...teaching them to balance the books...
To make the books balance, spending must fall and taxes must rise.
9 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
The balance in your bank account is the amount of money you have in it.
I'd like to check the balance in my account please.
10 [N-SING] the N
The balance of an amount of money is what remains to be paid for something or what remains when part of the amount has been spent.
They were due to pay the balance on delivery.
= remainder
11
see also bank balance
12 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
If something hangs in the balance, it is uncertain whether it will happen or continue.
The fate of a project which could revolutionise the use of computers in hospitals hangs in the balance.
13 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you keep your balance, for example when standing in a moving vehicle, you remain steady and do not fall over. If you lose your balance, you become unsteady and fall over.
14 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
If you are off balance, you are in an unsteady position and about to fall.
A gust of wind knocked him off balance and he fell face down in the mud.
15 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you are thrown off balance by something, you are surprised or confused by it.
She was trying to behave as if his visit hadn't thrown her off balance.
16 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
You can say on balance to indicate that you are stating an opinion after considering all the relevant facts or arguments.
On balance he agreed with Christine.bal|ance of pay|ments (balances of payments)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
A country's balance of payments is the difference, over a period of time, between the payments it makes to other countries for imports and the payments it receives from other countries for exports. (BUSINESS)
Britain's balance of payments deficit has improved slightly.bal|ance of pow|er
[N-SING]
The balance of power is the way in which power is distributed between rival groups or countries.
...changes in the balance of power between the United States and Europe.bal|ance of trade (balances of trade)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
A country's balance of trade is the difference in value, over a period of time, between the goods it imports and the goods it exports. (BUSINESS)
The deficit in Britain's balance of trade in March rose to more than 2100 million pounds.balance out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), also V n P
If two or more opposite things balance out or if you balance them out, they become equal in amount, value, or effect.
Outgoings and revenues balanced out...
The strenuous exercise undergone could balance out the increased calories.bal|ance sheet (balance sheets)
[N-COUNT]
A balance sheet is a written statement of the amount of money and property that a company or person has, including amounts of money that are owed or are owing. Balance sheet is also used to refer to the general financial state of a company. (BUSINESS)
Rolls-Royce needed a strong balance sheet.bank bal|ance (bank balances)
[N-COUNT]
Your bank balance is the amount of money that you have in your bank account at a particular time.work-life bal|ance
[N-UNCOUNT]
Your work-life balance is how you organize your days, for example how many hours you spend at work, and how much time you spend with friends or doing things you enjoy.
Senior managers stipulated work-life balance as their main criterion when choosing jobs.