counterbalance

English

Etymology

counter- +‎ balance.

Noun

counterbalance (plural counterbalances)

1. (literally) A weight that is put in opposition to an equal weight so it keeps that in balance.
2. (figuratively) A force or influence that balances, checks or limits an opposite one.

Synonyms

• counterpoise
• counterweight

Translations

weight balancing an opposite one

• Bulgarian: противотежест (bg) f (protivotežest)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 相抵 (zh) (xiāngdǐ)

• Czech: protizávaží n, protiváha f
• Dutch: ^{(please verify)} tegenwicht (nl) n, ^{(please verify)} gelijk gewicht
• Finnish: vastapaino (fi)
• Gujarati: ધડો (dhaḍo)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Macedonian: противтежа f (protivteža)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: motvekt m or f

  Nynorsk: motvekt f

• Portuguese: contrapeso m
• Russian: противове́с (ru) m (protivovés)
• Spanish: contrabalanza f, contrapeso (es) m

force or influence balancing an opposite one

• Dutch: ^{(please verify)} tegenkracht n, ^{(please verify)} gelijke kracht
• Finnish: vastavoima, vastapaino (fi)
• Macedonian: противтежа f (protivteža)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: motvekt m or f

  Nynorsk: motvekt f

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Portuguese: contrapeso m
• Russian: противове́с (ru) m (protivovés)
• Spanish: contrabalanza f, contraposición f

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• French: ^{(please verify)} contrepoids (fr) m
• German: ^{(please verify)} Gegengewicht (de) n
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Swedish: ^{(please verify)} motvikt (sv) c

Verb

1. (transitive) To apply weight in order to balance an opposing weight.

   Big brother counterbalances his two siblings to the pound.

   • Boyle

     The remaining air was not able to counterbalance the mercurial cylinder.

2. (transitive) To apply force in order to balance an opposite one.

   Arm wrestling is undecided as long as the opponents counterbalance each-other

3. (transitive, figuratively) To match or equal in effect, but acting in opposition

   The defenders' knowledge of the terrain roughly counterbalances the attackers' superior equipment

   • Sir W. Hamilton

     The study of mind is necessary to counterbalance and correct the influence of the study of nature.

   • 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page ix:

     A considerable effort has been made in these volumes to counterbalance this activity by introducing the student to the plants as living entities with a "life of their own," as Spruce put it.

Synonyms

• counteract
• counterpoise
• counterweight
• equiponderate
• offset

Antonyms

• outweigh
• overcome
• overpower

Translations

to apply weight in order to balance

• Bulgarian: уравновесявам (bg) (uravnovesjavam)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 相抵 (zh) (xiāngdǐ)

• Czech: vyvážit
• Dutch: ^{(please verify)} opwegen tegen, ^{(please verify)} een tegengewicht vormen voor
• Finnish: tasapainottaa (fi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• French: contrebalancer (fr)
• Portuguese: contrabalancear, contrapesar
• Romanian: contrabalansa (ro), cumpăni (ro)
• Russian: уравнове́шивать (ru) (uravnovéšivatʹ)
• Spanish: contrabalancear (es)

to apply force in order to balance

• Bulgarian: уравновесявам (bg) (uravnovesjavam)
• Dutch: ^{(please verify)} opwegen tegen, ^{(please verify)} een tegenkracht vormen voor
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Portuguese: contrapesar

to match or equal in effect, but acting in opposition

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}