Balance vs Equal - What's the difference?
balance | equal |
(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.
(label) The same in all respects.
* (1671-1743)
Exactly identical, having the same value.
*
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(label) Fair, impartial.
* 1644 , (John Milton), (Aeropagitica) :
* Bible, (w) xviii. 29
* (Edmund Spenser) (c.1552–1599)
(label) Adequate; sufficiently capable or qualified.
* 1881 , (Jane Austen), ,
* (1609-1674)
* (John Dryden) (1631-1700)
* (Ralph Waldo Emerson) (1803-1882)
(label) Not variable; equable; uniform; even.
* (John Dryden) (1631-1700)
(label) Intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all female; not mixed.
(mathematics) To be equal to, to have the same value as; to correspond to.
To be equivalent to; to match
* 2004 , Mary Levy and Jim Kelly, Marv Levy: Where Else Would You Rather Be?
(informal) To have as its consequence.
A person or thing of equal status to others.
* Addison
(obsolete) State of being equal; equality.
As nouns the difference between balance and equal
is that balance is a state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium while equal is a person or thing of equal status to others.As verbs the difference between balance and equal
is that balance is to bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights while equal is to be equal to, to have the same value as; to correspond to.As an adjective equal is
the same in all respects.balance
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.
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- 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.
Derived terms
* balanced * balance out * balance the booksSee also
* (versity) ----equal
English
Alternative forms
* (archaic) * (archaic)Adjective
(en adjective)- They who are not disposed to receive them may let them alone or reject them; it is equal to me.
- it could not but much redound to the lustre of your milde and equall Government, when as private persons are hereby animated to thinke ye better pleas'd with publick advice, then other statists have been delighted heretofore with publicke flattery.
- Are not my ways equal ?
- Thee, O Jove, no equal judge I deem.
p. 311
- her comprehension was certainly more equal to the covert meaning, the superior intelligence, of those five letters so arranged.
- The Scots trusted not their own numbers as equal to fight with the English.
- It is not permitted to me to make my commendations equal to your merit.
- whose voice an equal messenger / Conveyed thy meaning mild.
- an equal temper
Usage notes
*Synonyms
* (the same in all respects) identical * (exactly identical) equivalent, identical * (unvarying) even, fair, uniform, unvaryingVerb
- Two plus two equals four.
- There was an even more remarkable attendance figure that underscores the devotion exhibited by our fans, because it was in 1991 that they set a single season in-stadium attendance record that has never been equaled .
- Losing this deal equals losing your job.
- Might does not equal right.
Synonyms
* (to be equal to) be, is * (sense) entail, imply, lead to, mean, result in, spellNoun
(en noun)- We're all equals here.
- This beer has no equal .
- Those who were once his equals envy and defame him.
- (Spenser)