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Balance vs Brace - What's the difference?

balance | brace |

As verbs the difference between balance and brace

is that balance is while brace is (intransitive) to prepare for something bad, as an impact or blow.

As a noun brace is

(obsolete) armor for the arm; vambrace.

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) ----

    brace

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Armor for the arm; vambrace.
  • (obsolete) A measurement of length, originally representing a person's outstretched arms.
  • A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.
  • That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.
  • A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension.
  • A thong used to regulate the tension of a drum.
  • * Derham
  • The little bones of the ear drum do in straining and relaxing it as the braces of the war drum do in that.
  • The state of being braced or tight; tension.
  • * Holder
  • the laxness of the tympanum, when it has lost its brace or tension
  • Harness; warlike preparation.
  • * Shakespeare
  • for that it stands not in such warlike brace
  • (typography) A curved, pointed line, also known as "curly bracket": { or } connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be considered together, such as in ; in music, used to connect staves.
  • A pair, a couple; originally used of dogs, and later of animals generally and then other things, but rarely human persons. (The plural in this sense is unchanged.) In British use (as plural ), this is a particularly common reference to game birds.
  • * 1610 , , act 5 scene 1
  • But you, my brace of lords, were I so minded,
    I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you,
    And justify you traitors
  • * Addison
  • He is said to have shot fifty brace of pheasants.
  • * Fuller
  • A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and religion, now appeared in the church.
  • A piece of material used to transmit, or change the direction of, weight or pressure; any one of the pieces, in a frame or truss, which divide the structure into triangular parts. It may act as a tie, or as a strut, and serves to prevent distortion of the structure, and transverse strains in its members. A boiler brace is a diagonal stay, connecting the head with the shell.
  • (nautical) A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.
  • (UK, Cornwall, mining) The mouth of a shaft.
  • (mostly, in the plural) Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.
  • (mostly, in the plural) A system of wires, brackets, and elastic bands used to correct crooked teeth or to reduce overbite.
  • (soccer) Two goals scored by one player in a game.
  • Verb

    (brac)
  • (intransitive) To prepare for something bad, as an impact or blow.
  • All hands, brace for impact!
    Brace yourself!
  • *
  • The boy has no idea about everything that's been going on. You need to brace him for what's about to happen.
  • To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly.
  • He braced himself against the crowd.
  • * Fairfax
  • A sturdy lance in his right hand he braced .
  • (nautical) To swing round the yards of a square rigged ship, using braces, to present a more efficient sail surface to the direction of the wind
  • to brace the yards
  • To stop someone for questioning, usually said of police.
  • To confront with questions, demands or requests.
  • To furnish with braces; to support; to prop.
  • to brace a beam in a building
  • To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen.
  • to brace the nerves
  • * Campbell
  • And welcome war to brace her drums.
  • To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly.
  • * John Locke
  • The women of China, by bracing and binding them from their infancy, have very little feet.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • some who spurs had first braced on

    Anagrams

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