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

• IPA: /ˈbæləns/

balance

1. (uncountable) A state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium.
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.

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. (legal, 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.

• (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 and debits) account

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

• Italian: equilibrio, punto di equilibrio
• Russian: гармо́ния

• French: contrepoids
• Italian: contrappeso, bilanciamento
• Russian: противовес

• German: Ausgewogenheit
• Italian: neutralità
• Portuguese: equilíbrio
• Russian: сбаланси́рованность
• Spanish: equilibrio

• Italian: equilibrio

• French: équilibre
• Italian: equilibrio

• French: solde
• German: Bilanz, Saldo, Guthaben
• Italian: bilancio
• Portuguese: balanço
• Russian: бала́нс
• Spanish: balance

• French: solde
• German: Saldo
• Italian: saldo
• Portuguese: saldo
• Russian: са́льдо

• French: balancier
• Italian: bilanciere
• Russian: балансир

• German: Rest, Restbetrag (money)

balance (balances, present participle balancing; simple past and past participle balanced)

1. (transitive) To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights.
2. (transitive, figurative) 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 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.

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 ↗:

     Ballance the Good and Evil of Things.

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 et al.], “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 ↗:

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

     The spelling has been modernized.

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.

• German: balancieren
• Italian: bilanciare
• Portuguese: equilibrar
• Russian: уравнове́шивать
• Spanish: balancear

• German: ausgleichen
• Italian: bilanciare, equivalere, coniugare
• Portuguese: equilibrar
• Russian: уравнове́шивать

• German: balancieren, im Gleichgewicht halten
• Italian: tenere in equilibrio, bilanciare
• Portuguese: equilibrar
• Spanish: equilibrar

• French: apurer
• German: bilanzieren
• Italian: conguagliare, pareggiare
• Portuguese: balancear
• Spanish: hacer balance

• Portuguese: equilibrar