Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - balance

~1 n 1 »STEADY« a state in which all your weight is evenly spread so that you do not fall  (You need a good sense of balance to ride a bicycle. | lose your balance (=be unable to stay steady and not fall))  (I lost my balance and fell on my face. | keep your balance (=manage to stay steady and not fall, especially when this is difficult)) 2 »EQUALITY« a state in which opposite forces or influences have or are given equal importance + between  (the delicate balance between man and nature) + of  (a realistic balance of work and relaxation) strike a balance (=manage to balance opposing forces)  (We need to strike a balance between the needs of the community and the rights of the individual.)  (- opposite imbalance) 3 on balance if you think something on balance, you think it after considering all the facts  (I think on balance I prefer the old system.) 4 off balance a) unable to stay steady or upright  (I was still off balance when he hit me again.) b) surprised or confused  (throw sb off balance)  (The abrupt question threw her off balance and she couldn't reply.) 5 the balance of evidence/probability etc the most likely answer or result produced by opposing information, reasons etc  (The balance of evidence suggests that at least some of the politicians received money.) 6 »FOR WEIGHING« an instrument for weighing things by seeing whether the amounts in two hanging pans are equal 7 »BANK« the amount of money that you have in your bank account  (Could you tell me what my balance is please?) 8 »THE REST« the amount of something that remains after some has been used or spent + of  (I'd like to take the balance of my vacation in September.) 9 »OPPOSITE FORCE« a force or influence on one side which equals an opposite force or influence  (They work well together - her steadiness acts as a balance to his clever but impractical ideas.) 10 be/hang in the balance if the future or success of something hangs in the balance, you cannot yet know whether the result will be bad or good  (Meanwhile the fate of the refugees continues to hang in the balance.) 11 tip/swing the balance to influence the result of an event  (Your letter of recommendation swung the balance in his favour.) ~2 v 1 »KEEP STEADY« to get into a steady position, without falling to one side or the other, or to put something into this position  (balance sth on)  (She balanced the cup on a huge pile of books.) + on  (He turned around, balancing awkwardly on one foot.) 2 »BE EQUAL TO« to be equal to something else in weight, amount, or importance  (Exports must go down to balance decreased imports.) 3 »GO WELL WITH« to have an opposite effect to something else, so that a good result is achieved  (just enough sugar to balance the acidity of the fruit) 4 »KEEP STH EQUAL« to try to give equal importance to two things  (a working mother, balancing home and career | balance sth with)  (She had learned to balance working efficiency with good human relationshps.) 5 »THINK ABOUT« to consider the importance of something in relation to the importance of something else  (balance sth against)  (The courts must balance the liberty of the few against the security of the many.) 6 balance the books/budget to show or make sure that the money that has been spent is equal to the money that is available