counterbalance

[ noun koun-ter-bal-uhns; verb koun-ter-bal-uhns ]
/ noun ˈkaʊn tərˌbæl əns; verb ˌkaʊn tərˈbæl əns /

noun

a weight balancing another weight; an equal weight, power, or influence acting in opposition; counterpoise.

verb (used with or without object), coun·ter·bal·anced, coun·ter·bal·anc·ing.

to act against or oppose with an equal weight, force, or influence; offset.

Origin of counterbalance

First recorded in 1570–80; counter- + balance

OTHER WORDS FROM counterbalance

un·coun·ter·bal·anced, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for counterbalance

British Dictionary definitions for counterbalance

counterbalance

noun (ˈkaʊntəˌbæləns)

a weight or force that balances or offsets another

verb (ˌkaʊntəˈbæləns) (tr)

to act as a counterbalance
Also called: counterpoise