n. 1
A pair of scales.
n. 2
Awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity.
v. 1
To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights.
v. 2
To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights. To move while remaining balanced on a narrow or precarious support (e.g., a wire, ledge or rope).
They must balance themselves down the fence until they reach the end.

Related words

Word family: balancer
Phrases: strike a balance throw off balance false balance balance bicycle balance of trade current balance tip the balance steelyard balance

Forms

Plural: balances → rests, remainders, excesses, remainings…
Past participle: balanced
e.g. balanced → equilibrated, equilibrized, counterbalanced, adjusted…

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

4 letters: rest¹, trim¹
5 letters: scale¹, equal², weigh¹, poise¹, libra²
6 letters: square¹, settle², excess², adjust², scales¹
7 letters: account², compare², surplus², residue³
8 letters: estimate³, fairness², residual⁴, symmetry³, equalize³, equalise, residuum, overplus
9 letters: remaining³, remainder³, equalizer⁴, equaliser, equipoise
10 letters: proportion³, compensate³, neutrality⁴, counteract³, neutralize³, neutralise, steadiness³
11 letters: equilibrium⁵, disinterest⁴, weighbridge, equilibrate, countervail³, equilibrize
12 letters: impartiality⁶, counterpoise
13 letters: counterweight³
14 letters: correspondence⁴, counterbalance⁴
15 letters: proportionality⁶, nonpartisanship, symmetricalness

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (equal² = 2 syllables).