counterbalance

Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

coun·ter·bal·ance

(koun′tər-băl′əns, koun′tər-băl′əns)

1. A force or influence equally counteracting another.

2. A weight that acts to balance another; a counterpoise or counterweight.

tr.v. (koun′tər-băl′əns, koun′tər-băl′əns) coun·ter·bal·anced, coun·ter·bal·anc·ing, coun·ter·bal·anc·es

1. To act as a counteracting force, influence, or weight to; counterpoise.

2. To oppose with an equal force; offset.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

counterbalance

(General Physics) a weight or force that balances or offsets another

vb (tr)

to act as a counterbalance

Also called: counterpoise

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

coun•ter•bal•ance

(n. ˈkaʊn tərˌbæl əns; v. ˌkaʊn tərˈbæl əns)

n., v. -anced, -anc•ing. n.

1. a weight balancing another weight; an equal power or influence acting in opposition; counterpoise.

v.t., v.i.

2. to oppose with an equal weight, force, or influence.

[1570–80]

counterbalance

Past participle: counterbalanced
Gerund: counterbalancing

Imperative
counterbalance
counterbalance

Present
I counterbalance
you counterbalance
he/she/it counterbalances
we counterbalance
you counterbalance
they counterbalance

Preterite
I counterbalanced
you counterbalanced
he/she/it counterbalanced
we counterbalanced
you counterbalanced
they counterbalanced

Present Continuous
I am counterbalancing
you are counterbalancing
he/she/it is counterbalancing
we are counterbalancing
you are counterbalancing
they are counterbalancing

Present Perfect
I have counterbalanced
you have counterbalanced
he/she/it has counterbalanced
we have counterbalanced
you have counterbalanced
they have counterbalanced

Past Continuous
I was counterbalancing
you were counterbalancing
he/she/it was counterbalancing
we were counterbalancing
you were counterbalancing
they were counterbalancing

Past Perfect
I had counterbalanced
you had counterbalanced
he/she/it had counterbalanced
we had counterbalanced
you had counterbalanced
they had counterbalanced

Future
I will counterbalance
you will counterbalance
he/she/it will counterbalance
we will counterbalance
you will counterbalance
they will counterbalance

Future Perfect
I will have counterbalanced
you will have counterbalanced
he/she/it will have counterbalanced
we will have counterbalanced
you will have counterbalanced
they will have counterbalanced

Future Continuous
I will be counterbalancing
you will be counterbalancing
he/she/it will be counterbalancing
we will be counterbalancing
you will be counterbalancing
they will be counterbalancing

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been counterbalancing
you have been counterbalancing
he/she/it has been counterbalancing
we have been counterbalancing
you have been counterbalancing
they have been counterbalancing

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been counterbalancing
you will have been counterbalancing
he/she/it will have been counterbalancing
we will have been counterbalancing
you will have been counterbalancing
they will have been counterbalancing

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been counterbalancing
you had been counterbalancing
he/she/it had been counterbalancing
we had been counterbalancing
you had been counterbalancing
they had been counterbalancing

Conditional
I would counterbalance
you would counterbalance
he/she/it would counterbalance
we would counterbalance
you would counterbalance
they would counterbalance

Past Conditional
I would have counterbalanced
you would have counterbalanced
he/she/it would have counterbalanced
we would have counterbalanced
you would have counterbalanced
they would have counterbalanced

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	counterbalance - a weight that balances another weight counterpoise, counterweight, equaliser, equalizer, balance sash weight - a counterweight for a sliding sash tare - (chemical analysis) a counterweight used in chemical analysis; consists of an empty container that counterbalances the weight of the container holding chemicals weight - an artifact that is heavy
	2.	counterbalance - equality of distribution equipoise, equilibrium, balance structure, construction - a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazing construction of whirls and ribbons" conformation - a symmetrical arrangement of the parts of a thing symmetry, proportion - balance among the parts of something
	3.	counterbalance - a compensating equivalent offset compensation - something (such as money) given or received as payment or reparation (as for a service or loss or injury)
Verb	1.	counterbalance - adjust for; "engineers will work to correct the effects or air resistance" even off, even out, even up, compensate, correct, make up carry - compensate for a weaker partner or member by one's own performance; "I resent having to carry her all the time" overcompensate, compensate, cover - make up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities; "he is compensating for being a bad father" balance, equilibrise, equilibrize, equilibrate - bring into balance or equilibrium; "She has to balance work and her domestic duties"; "balance the two weights"
	2.	counterbalance - contrast with equal weight or force oppose counterpoise, counterpose, counterweight - constitute a counterweight or counterbalance to counterpoint, contrast - to show differences when compared; be different; "the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities"
	3.	counterbalance - oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions; "This will counteract the foolish actions of my colleagues" countervail, neutralize, counteract override - counteract the normal operation of (an automatic gear shift in a vehicle) cancel, offset, set off - make up for; "His skills offset his opponent's superior strength"

counterbalance

verb offset, balance out, compensate for, make up for, counterpoise, countervail Add honey to counterbalance the acidity of the sauce.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

counterbalance

verb

1. To act as an equalizing weight or force to:

balance, compensate, counteract, counterpoise, countervail, make up, offset, set off.

2. To put in balance:

balance, equalize, stabilize, steady.

3. To make up for:

balance, compensate, counterpoise, countervail, neutralize, offset, outweigh, redeem, set off.

Translations

protiváhaprotizávaží

tasapainottaavastapainovastavoima

contrebalancer

controbilanciare contrappeso

counterbalance

[ˈkaʊntəˌbæləns]

A. N → contrapeso m (fig) → compensación f

B. VT → contrapesar (fig) → compensar

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

counterbalance

counter-balance [ˌkaʊntə^rˈbæləns] vt → contrebalancer, faire contrepoids à

counterbalance

[ˈkaʊntəˌbæləns]

1. n → contrappeso

2. vt → controbilanciare, fare da contrappeso a

References in classic literature ?

"It takes some time to release the counterbalance, when you press on the spring from the inside of the room.

"Why, the counterbalance that lifts the whole of this wall on to its pivot.

View in context

If the periods be distant from each other, the same remark will be applicable to all recent measures; and in proportion as the remoteness of the others may favor a dispassionate review of them, this advantage is inseparable from inconveniences which seem to counterbalance it.

View in context

To have her acquaintance with the Tilneys end so soon was an evil which nothing could counterbalance. Her whole happiness seemed at stake, while the affair was in suspense, and everything secured when it was determined that the lodgings should be taken for another fortnight.

View in context

The invigorating influences of this excess of oxygen upon the Martians indisputably did much to counterbalance the increased weight of their bodies.

View in context

He was beyond comparison the most pleasant man; he certainly admired her, and his situation in life was most eligible; but, to counterbalance these advantages, Mr.

View in context

On the contrary, that gentleman grew every day fonder of little Tommy, as if he intended to counterbalance his severity to the father with extraordinary fondness and affection towards the son.

View in context

To counterbalance their royal descent, he had courage, activity, energy, and, above all, that devoted attachment to the cause which had procured him the epithet of The Saxon, and his birth was inferior to none, excepting only that of Athelstane and his ward.

View in context

that epitome of all the unsteady and profitless propensities of the settlers without one of their good qualities to counterbalance the evil!

View in context

Our king, as a matter of course, retained his 'fool.' The fact is, he required something in the way of folly -- if only to counterbalance the heavy wisdom of the seven wise men who were his ministers -- not to mention himself.

View in context

It was the choicest gift of Heaven; and Anne viewed her friend as one of those instances in which, by a merciful appointment, it seems designed to counterbalance almost every other want.

View in context

As she left her apartments to make her way to the gardens where the guests were congregating, two warriors, the insignia of the House of the Prince of Helium upon their harness, followed a few paces behind her, grim reminders that the assassin's blade may never be ignored upon Barsoom, where, in a measure, it counterbalances the great natural span of human life, which is estimated at not less than a thousand years.