Part 502

4. To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.

Balance the good and evil of things. L'Estrange.

5. To settle and adjust, as an account; to make two accounts equal by paying the difference between them.

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

6. To make the sums of the debits and credits of an account equal; -- said of an item; as, this payment, or credit, balances the account.

7. To arrange accounts in such a way that the sum total of the debits is equal to the sum total of the credits; as, to balance a set of books.

8. (Dancing) To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally; as, to balance partners.

9. (Naut.) To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass; as, to balance the boom mainsail.

Balanced valve. See Balance valve, under Balance, n.

Syn. -- To poise; weigh; adjust; counteract; neutralize; equalize.

Bal"ance, v. i. 1. To have equal weight on each side; to be in equipoise; as, the scales balance.

2. To fluctuate between motives which appear of equal force; to waver; to hesitate.

He would not balance or err in the determination of his choice. Locke.

3. (Dancing) To move toward a person or couple, and then back.

Bal"ance*a*ble (&?;), a. Such as can be balanced.

Bal"ance*ment (&?;), n. The act or result of balancing or adjusting; equipoise; even adjustment of forces. [R.] Darwin.

Bal"an*cer (&?;), n. 1. One who balances, or uses a balance.

2. (Zoöl.) In Diptera, the rudimentary posterior wing.

Bal"ance*reef` (&?;), n. (Naut.) The last reef in a fore-and-aft sail, taken to steady the ship.

Bal"ance wheel` (&?;). 1. (Horology) (a) A wheel which regulates the beats or pulses of a watch or chronometer, answering to the pendulum of a clock; -- often called simply a balance. (b) A ratchet-shaped scape wheel, which in some watches is acted upon by the axis of the balance wheel proper (in those watches called a balance).

2. (Mach.) A wheel which imparts regularity to the movements of any engine or machine; a fly wheel.

Bal`a*nif"er*ous (&?;), a. [L. balanus acorn + -ferous.] Bearing or producing acorns.

Bal"a*nite (&?;), n. [L. balanus acorn: cf. F. balanite.] (Paleon.) A fossil balanoid shell.

||Bal`a*no*glos"sus (&?;), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ba`lanos acorn + glw^ssa tongue.] (Zoöl) A peculiar marine worm. See Enteropneusta, and Tornaria.

Bal"a*noid (&?;), a. [Gr. balanos acorn + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Resembling an acorn; -- applied to a group of barnacles having shells shaped like acorns. See Acornshell, and Barnacle.

Bal"as ru`by (&?;). [OE. bales, balais, F. balais, LL. balascus, fr. Ar. balakhsh, so called from Badakhshan, Balashan, or Balaxiam, a place in the neighborhood of Samarcand, where this ruby is found.] (Min.) A variety of spinel ruby, of a pale rose red, or inclining to orange. See Spinel.

Ba*laus"tine (&?;), n. [L. balaustium, Gr. balay`stion.] (Bot.) The pomegranate tree (Punica granatum). The bark of the root, the rind of the fruit, and the flowers are used medicinally.

{ Bal*bu"ti*ate (&?;), Bal*bu"ci*nate (&?;), } v. i. [L. balbutire, fr. balbus stammering: cf. F. balbutier.] To stammer. [Obs.]