Alternate vs Balance - What's the difference?
alternate | balance |
Being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal.
(mathematics) Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second.
(US) Other; alternative.
(botany) Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence.
That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.
* Matthew Prior
(US) A substitute; an alternative; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.
(mathematics) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.
(US) A replacement of equal or greater value or function.
(heraldry) Figures or tinctures that succeed each other by turns.
To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.
* Grew
To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; followed by with .
To vary by turns.
(uncountable) a state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium
(uncountable) mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed
something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium (literally or figuratively); counterweight
a pair of scales
(uncountable) awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity
(uncountable) the overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.; the influence which ultimately "weighs" more than others
* {{quote-news, year=2012
, date=April 19
, author=Josh Halliday
, title=Free speech haven or lawless cesspool – can the internet be civilised?
, work=the Guardian
(uncountable) apparent harmony in art (between differing colours, sounds, etc.)
(accounting) a list accounting for the debits on one side, and for the credits on the other.
(accounting) the result of such a procedure; the difference between credit and debit of an account.
(watchmaking) a device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc.
(legal) the remainder.
(obsolete, astrology) Libra
To bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights.
To make (items) weigh up.
(figurative) To make (concepts) agree.
* Kent
To hold (an object or objects) precariously; to support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling.
To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.
* L'Estrange
(dancing) To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally.
(nautical) To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass.
To make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond.
* Addison
To be in equilibrium.
To have matching credits and debits.
In transitive terms the difference between alternate and balance
is that alternate is to perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly while balance is to make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond.In intransitive terms the difference between alternate and balance
is that alternate is to vary by turns while balance is to have matching credits and debits.As an adjective alternate
is being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal.alternate
English
(Webster 1913)Adjective
(-)- And bid alternate passions fall and rise . -
- the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.
- Hyperlinked text is displayed in alternate color in a Web browser.
- (Gray)
Noun
(en noun)- Grateful alternates of substantial.
Verb
(alternat)- The most high God, in all things appertaining unto this life, for sundry wise ends alternates the disposition of good and evil.
- The flood and ebb tides alternate with each other.
- ''The land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.
Derived terms
* alternate allegation * alternate angles * alternate generation * alternately * alternationSee also
* alternative * variantbalance
English
Alternative forms
* balaunce (obsolete)Noun
- These weights are used as a balance for the overhanging verandah.
- Blair thought he could provide a useful balance to Bush's policies.
- The balance of power finally lay with the Royalist forces.
- I think the balance of opinion is that we should get out while we're ahead.
citation, page= , passage=The shift in the balance of power online has allowed anyone to publish to the world, from dispirited teenagers in south London to an anonymous cyber-dissident in a Middle East autocracy.}}
- I just need to nip to a bank and check my balance .
- The balance of the agreement remains in effect.
Synonyms
* (scales) pair of scales, scales, weighing machine, weighbridge (for vehicles) * (equilibrium) equilibrium * (support for both viewpoints) disinterest, even-handedness, fairness, impartiality, neutrality, nonpartisanship * (list of credits and debits) accountAntonyms
* (equilibrium) nonequilibrium, imbalance, unbalance * (support for both viewpoints) bias, favor/favour, partiality, partisanship, prejudice, unfairnessDerived terms
; Accounting: * adjusted trial balance * analytical balance * balance of payments * balance sheet * balanced scorecard * closing balance * comparative balance sheet * trial balance * opening balance ; Other: * balance beam * balance of nature * balance of power * balance of trade * balance wheel * balancing act * chemical balance * hang in the balance * in the balance * keep one's balance * lose one's balance * off balance * on balance * strike a balance * throw off balanceVerb
(balanc)- One expression must check and balance another.
- I balanced my mug of coffee on my knee.
- The circus performer balances a plate on the end of a baton.
- Balance the good and evil of things.
- to balance partners
- to balance the boom mainsail
- This final payment, or credit, balances the account.
- to balance a set of books
- I am very well satisfied that it is not in my power to balance accounts with my Maker.
