From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Counterbalance \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 Webster]
The remaining air was not able to counterbalance the
mercurial cylinder. --Boyle.
[1913 Webster]
The study of mind is necessary to counterbalance and
correct the influence of the study of nature. --Sir W.
Hamilton.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Counterbalance \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 wheel.
(b) A counterpoise to balance the weight of anything, as of a
drawbridge or a scale beam.
[1913 Webster]
Money is the counterbalance to all other things
purchasable by it. --Locke.
[1913 Webster] counter-balanced
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
counterbalance
n 1: a weight that balances another weight [syn:
{counterweight}, {counterbalance}, {counterpoise},
{balance}, {equalizer}, {equaliser}]
2: equality of distribution [syn: {balance}, {equilibrium},
{equipoise}, {counterbalance}]
3: a compensating equivalent [syn: {counterbalance}, {offset}]
v 1: adjust for; "engineers will work to correct the effects or
air resistance" [syn: {compensate}, {counterbalance},
{correct}, {make up}, {even out}, {even off}, {even up}]
2: contrast with equal weight or force [syn: {oppose},
{counterbalance}]
3: oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions; "This
will counteract the foolish actions of my colleagues" [syn:
{counteract}, {countervail}, {neutralize}, {counterbalance}]
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