counterbalance

  • 1counterbalance — Ⅰ. counterbalance UK US /ˈkaʊntəˌbæləns/ US  / ṱɚ / verb [T] ► to have an equal but opposite effect on something in a positive way, so that it does not have too much of a particular characteristic: »Investment in forestry projects is intended to …

    Financial and business terms

  • 2Counterbalance — Coun ter*bal ance ( b?l ans), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Counterbalanced} ( anst); p. pr. & vb. n. {Counterbalancing}.] To oppose with an equal weight or power; to counteract the power or effect of; to countervail; to equiponderate; to balance. [1913… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3Counterbalance — Coun ter*bal ance (koun t?r b?l ans), n. A weight, power, or agency, acting against or balancing another; as: (a) 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 …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4counterbalance — [kount′ər bal΄əns; ] for v., also [ kount΄ər bal΄əns] n. 1. a weight used to balance another weight; counterpoise 2. any force or influence that balances or offsets another vt. counterbalanced, counterbalancing to be a counterbalance to; offset …

    English World dictionary

  • 5counterbalance — index counteract, cover (provide for), equipoise, neutralize, offset, oppose, outbalance, quid pro q …

    Law dictionary

  • 6counterbalance — 1570s (v.), from COUNTER (Cf. counter ) + BALANCE (Cf. balance), in reference to scales. Figurative use dates from 1630s. As a noun, from c.1600 …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 7counterbalance — vb offset, *compensate, countervail, balance, counterpoise Analogous words: *stabilize, steady, poise: *correct (sense 1) Contrasted words: *overturn, upset, capsize …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 8counterbalance — [v] offset an action amend, atone for, balance, cancel, compensate, correct, counteract, counterpoise, countervail, equalize, make up for, outweigh, rectify, redeem, set off; concepts 87,96,126 …

    New thesaurus

  • 9counterbalance — ► NOUN 1) a weight that balances another. 2) a factor having the opposite effect to that of another, so neutralizing it. ► VERB ▪ have an opposing and balancing effect on …

    English terms dictionary

  • 10counterbalance — I UK [ˈkaʊntə(r)ˌbæləns] / US [ˈkaʊntərˌbæləns] verb [transitive] Word forms counterbalance : present tense I/you/we/they counterbalance he/she/it counterbalances present participle counterbalancing past tense counterbalanced past participle… …

    English dictionary