counterbalance (plural counterbalances)

1. (literally) A weight that is put in opposition to an equal weight so it keeps that in balance.
2. (figuratively) A force or influence that balances, checks or limits an opposite one.

• counterpoise
• counterweight

• French: contrepoids
• German: Gegengewicht
• Portuguese: contrapeso
• Russian: противове́с
• Spanish: contrabalanza, contrapeso

• French: contrepoids
• German: Gegengewicht, Gegenkraft
• Portuguese: contrapeso
• Russian: противове́с
• Spanish: contrabalanza, contraposición

counterbalance (counterbalances, present participle counterbalancing; past and past participle counterbalanced)

1. (transitive) To apply weight in order to balance an opposing weight.

   Big brother counterbalances his two siblings to the pound.

   • quote en

   Synonyms: counterpoise, equiponderate, counterweight
   Hypernyms: offset
   Antonyms: outweigh
2. (transitive, figuratively) To match or equal in effect when applying opposing force

   Arm wrestling is undecided as long as the opponents counterbalance each-other

   The defenders' knowledge of the terrain roughly counterbalances the attackers' superior equipment

   • quote en

   • 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, New York, N.Y.: Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page ix:

     A considerable effort has been made in these volumes to counterbalance this activity by introducing the student to the plants as living entities with a "life of their own," as Spruce put it.

   Synonyms: counterpoise, counteract

   Antonyms: overcome, overpower

• French: contrebalancer
• Portuguese: contrabalancear, contrapesar
• Russian: уравнове́шивать
• Spanish: contrabalancear

• Portuguese: contrapesar