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Balance vs Level - What's the difference?

balance | level |

As nouns the difference between balance and level

is that balance is a state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium while level is a tool for finding whether a surface is level, or for creating a horizontal or vertical line of reference.

As verbs the difference between balance and level

is that balance is to bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights while level is to adjust so as to make as flat or perpendicular to the ground as possible.

As an adjective level is

the same height at all places; parallel to a flat ground.

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) ----

    level

    English

    (wikipedia level)

    Adjective

    (er)
  • The same height at all places; parallel to a flat ground.
  • * Milton
  • the smooth and level pavement
  • At the same height as some reference; constructed as level with .
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=14 citation , passage=Nanny Broome was looking up at the outer wall. Just under the ceiling there were three lunette windows, heavily barred and blacked out in the normal way by centuries of grime. Their bases were on a level with the pavement outside, a narrow way which was several feet lower than the road behind the house.}}
  • Unvaried in frequency.
  • Calm.
  • In the same position or rank.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Young boys and girls / Are level now with men.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 22, author=Sam Sheringham
  • , title=Aston Villa 1 - 2 West Brom, work=BBC Sport citation , passage=After a poor start to the season, Roy Hodgson's men are now unbeaten in four matches and 10th in the Premier League table, level with Aston Villa on 11 points.}}
  • Straightforward; direct; clear.
  • * M. Arnold
  • a very plain and level account
  • Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial.
  • a level''' head; a '''level understanding
  • * Shakespeare
  • a level consideration
  • (phonetics) Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection.
  • Antonyms

    * unbalanced * uneven * tilted

    Derived terms

    * level playing field * dead level

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A tool for finding whether a surface is , or for creating a horizontal or vertical line of reference.
  • A distance relative to a given reference elevation.
  • Degree or amount.
  • * , chapter=17
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=This time was most dreadful for Lilian. Thrown on her own resources and almost penniless, she maintained herself and paid the rent of a wretched room near the hospital by working as a charwoman, sempstress, anything. In a moment she had dropped to the level of a casual labourer.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-05-17, author=George Monbiot, authorlink=George Monbiot
  • , title=Money just makes the rich suffer, volume=188, issue=23, page=19, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) citation , passage=In order to grant the rich these pleasures, the social contract is reconfigured. […]  The public realm is privatised, the regulations restraining the ultra–wealthy and the companies they control are abandoned, and Edwardian levels of inequality are almost fetishised.}}
  • (computer science) Distance from the root node of a tree structure.
  • (gaming) One of several discrete segments of a game generally increasing in difficulty. Often numbered. Often, each level occupies different physical space (levels don't require any direct physical relationship to each other, e.g. vertically stacked, horizontally chained, etc).
  • (gaming) A numeric value that quantifies a character's experience and power.
  • A floor of a multi-storey building.
  • (British) an area of almost perfectly flat land.
  • Derived terms

    * bonus level * dead level * on the level * spirit level * split level * to the next level

    See also

    *

    Verb

  • To adjust so as to make as flat or perpendicular to the ground as possible.
  • :
  • To destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze.
  • :
  • *(John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • *:He levels mountains and he raises plains.
  • (lb) To progress to the next level.
  • :
  • To aim or direct (a weapon, a stare, an accusation, etc).
  • :
  • *(John Stow) (c.1525–1605)
  • *:Bertram de Gordon, standing on the castle wall, levelled a quarrel out of a crossbow.
  • *
  • *:But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection. ¶The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window […], and a 'bead' could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind the hedge, little dreaming that the deadly tube was levelled at them.
  • To make the score of a game equal.
  • *{{quote-news, year=2012, date=April 9, author=Mandeep Sanghera, work=BBC Sport
  • , title= Tottenham 1-2 Norwich , passage=Holt was furious referee Michael Oliver refused to then award him a penalty after Ledley King appeared to pull his shirt and his anger was compounded when Spurs immediately levelled .}}
  • To levy.
  • *2007 , Mary Jacoby, EU investigators endorse charges against Intel , Wall Street Journal Europe, 17 January, p.32, col.5:
  • *:Ultimately, Ms. Kroes [European Union Antitrust Commissioner] could level a fine and order Intel to change its business practices.
  • (lb) To bring to a common level or plane, in respect of rank, condition, character, privilege, etc.
  • :
  • To adjust or adapt to a certain level.
  • :
  • *(Edmund Spenser) (c.1552–1599)
  • *:For all his mind on honour fixed is, / To which he levels all his purposes.
  • Derived terms

    * level out * level up * level with someone