balanceとは意味・読み方・使い方

別の表記

• balaunce (廃れた用法)

語源

From Middle English balaunce, from Middle French balance, from Late Latin *bilancia, from (accusative form of) Latin bilanx (“two-scaled”), from bi- + lanx (“plate, scale”).

発音

• IPA^(key): /ˈbæləns/
• 韻: -æləns

名詞

balance (countable かつ uncountable, 複数形 balances)

1. (uncountable) A state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium.
   • 1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 196:

     But civilized man is quite a different animal, and when he wipes out an entire city or levels a forest, he is no longer working within the natural balance of things.

2. (uncountable) Mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed.
3. (literally or figuratively) Something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium; counterweight.

   These weights are used as a balance for the overhanging verandah

   Blair thought he could provide a useful balance to Bush's policies.

4. A pair of scales.
5. (uncountable) Awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity.
6. (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.

   • 2012 April 19, Josh Halliday, “Free speech haven or lawless cesspool – can the internet be civilised?”, in the Guardian‎^[1]:

     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.

7. (uncountable) Apparent harmony in art (between differing colours, sounds, etc.).
8. (accounting) A list accounting for the debits on one side, and for the credits on the other.
9. (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.

10. (watchmaking) A device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc.
11. (law, business) The remainder.

    The balance of the agreement remains in effect.

    The invoice said he had only paid $50. The balance was $220.

12. (obsolete, astrology) Libra.

同意語

• (scales): pair of scales, set of scales, scales, weighing machine, weighbridge (for vehicles)
• (equilibrium): equilibrium
• (support for both viewpoints): disinterest, even-handedness, fairness, impartiality, neutrality, nonpartisanship
• (list of credits かつ debits): account

反意語

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

派生語

動詞

A girl balancing on a plank of wood

balance (三人称単数 現在形 balances, 現在分詞 balancing, 過去形および過去分詞形 balanced)

1. (transitive) To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights.
2. (transitive, figuratively) To make (concepts) agree.
   • 2014', Peter Melville Logan, Olakunle George, Susan Hegeman, The Encyclopedia of the Novel

     the Proteus Principle helps to qualify and balance the concepts of narrators and of narrative situations as previously developed in classical studies by G erard Genette and Franz Stanzel.

3. (transitive) To hold (an object または 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.

4. (transitive) To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.
   • 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], OCLC 228727523:

     Ballance the Good and Evil of Things.

   • 1941 September, Charles E. Lee, “Sheltering in London Tube Stations”, in Railway Magazine, page 389:

     Mr. Morrison's ruling to reopen the station as a shelter was given after he had balanced the relative dangers of flooding and bombing.

5. (transitive, dancing) To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally.

   to balance partners

6. (nautical) To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass.

   to balance the boom mainsail

7. (transitive) To make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond.

   This final payment, or credit, balances the account.

   to balance a set of books

   • 1712 December 10 (Gregorian calendar)​, Joseph Addison; Richard Steele, “SATURDAY, November 29, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 549; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume VI, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, OCLC 191120697:

     I am very well satisfied that it is not in my power to balance accounts with my Maker.

8. (intransitive) To be in equilibrium.
9. (intransitive) To have matching credits and debits.
10. (transitive, obsolete) To weigh in a balance.
11. (intransitive, obsolete) To hesitate or fluctuate.

派生語