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balance

Definitions of balance
  1. noun
    a weight that balances another weight
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    type of:
    poids
    an artifact that is heavy
  2. noun
    the difference between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account
    synonyms: bilan
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    types:
    balance commerciale, balance du commerce
    the difference in value over a period of time of a country's imports and exports of merchandise
    effet prolongé
    the accumulated and undivided profits of a corporation after provision has been made for dividends and reserves
  3. noun
    a balance between and interplay of opposing elements or tendencies (especially in art or literature)
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    type of:
    équilibre
    a state of equilibrium
  4. noun
    someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police
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    type of:
    dénonciateur, révelateur
    one who reveals confidential information in return for money
  5. noun
    a measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass
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    types:
    pont-bascule
    platform scale flush with a roadway for weighing vehicles and cattle etc
    balance électrique
    a balance that generates a current proportional to the displacement of the pan
    microbalance
    balance for weighing very small objects
    balance à ressort
    a balance that measure weight by the tension on a helical spring
    balance romaine
    a portable balance consisting of a pivoted bar with arms of unequal length
    type of:
    instrument de mesure, mesureur
    instrument that shows the extent or amount or quantity or degree of something
  6. noun
    a balance consisting of a lever with two equal arms and a pan suspended from each arm
  7. noun
    a record of the financial situation of an institution on a particular date by listing its assets and the claims against those assets
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    type of:
    document, registre
    a document that can serve as legal evidence of a transaction
  8. noun
    a scale for weighing; depends on pull of gravity
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    types:
    balance électrique
    a balance that generates a current proportional to the displacement of the pan
    microbalance
    balance for weighing very small objects
    balance à ressort
    a balance that measure weight by the tension on a helical spring
    balance romaine
    a portable balance consisting of a pivoted bar with arms of unequal length
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘balance'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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