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Balance vs Balancing - What's the difference?

balance | balancing |

As nouns the difference between balance and balancing

is that balance is a state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium while balancing is an action wherein someone balances or something is balanced.

As verbs the difference between balance and balancing

is that balance is to bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights while balancing is present participle of lang= en.

balance

English

Alternative forms

* balaunce (obsolete)

Noun

  • (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
    • These weights are used as a balance for the overhanging verandah.
    Blair thought he could provide a useful balance to Bush's policies.
  • 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
    • 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.
  • * {{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 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.}}
  • (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.
    • I just need to nip to a bank and check my balance .
  • (watchmaking) a device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc.
  • (legal) the remainder.
    • The balance of the agreement remains in effect.
  • (obsolete, astrology) Libra

    • 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) account

    Antonyms

    * (equilibrium) nonequilibrium, imbalance, unbalance * (support for both viewpoints) bias, favor/favour, partiality, partisanship, prejudice, unfairness

    Derived 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 balance

    Verb

    (balanc)
  • 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
    • One expression must check and balance another.
  • To hold (an object or objects) precariously; to support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling.
    • I balanced my mug of coffee on my knee.
    The circus performer balances a plate on the end of a baton.
  • To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.
  • * L'Estrange
    • Balance the good and evil of things.
  • (dancing) To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally.
    • to balance partners
  • (nautical) To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass.
    • to balance the boom mainsail
  • To make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond.
    • This final payment, or credit, balances the account.
    to balance a set of books
  • * Addison
    • I am very well satisfied that it is not in my power to balance accounts with my Maker.
  • To be in equilibrium.
  • To have matching credits and debits.

    • Derived terms

    * balanced * balance out * balance the books

    See also

    * (versity) ----

    balancing

    English

    Verb

    (head)

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • An action wherein someone balances or something is balanced
  • * {{quote-book, year=1886, author=Ministry of Education, title=The Ontario Readers: The High School Reader, 1886, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=In other places of the holy writings the Almighty is described as weighing the mountains in scales, making the weight for the winds, knowing the balancings of the clouds; and, in others, as weighing the actions of men, and laying their calamities together in a balance. }}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1909, author=Andre Castaigne, title=The Bill-Toppers, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=And he locked her up all day in her room doing her balancings , the boomerang on the front wheel, the standstill on the back-wheel, or the bike upside down, with Lily standing on the pedals, like a convict on the tread-mill. }}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1907, author=A. E. W. Mason, title=Running Water, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=But she had been reading deeply of the Alps, and in all the histories of mountain exploits which she had read, of climbs up vertical cracks in sheer walls of rocks, balancings upon ridges sharp as a knife edge, crawlings over smooth slabs with nowhere to rest the feet or hands, it was the ice-slope which had most kindled her imagination. }}