Adjacent Words

Equilibrium definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

EQUILIB'RIUM, n. [L.] In mechanics, equipose; equality of weight; the state of the two ends of a lever or balance, when both are charged with equal weight, and they maintain an even or level position, parallel to the horizon.
1. Equality of powers.
Health consists in the equilibrium between those two powers.
2. Equal balancing of the mind between motives or reasons; a
state of indifference or of doubt, when the mind is suspended in indecision, between different motives, or the different forces of evidence.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a stable situation in which forces cancel one another [ant: disequilibrium]
2: a chemical reaction and its reverse proceed at equal rates [syn: chemical equilibrium, equilibrium]
3: equality of distribution [syn: balance, equilibrium, equipoise, counterbalance]
4: a sensory system located in structures of the inner ear that registers the orientation of the head [syn: equilibrium, labyrinthine sense, vestibular sense, sense of balance, sense of equilibrium]

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural -riums or equilibria) Etymology: Latin aequilibrium, from aequilibris being in equilibrium, from aequi- + libra weight, balance Date: 1608 1. a. a state of intellectual or emotional balance ; poise <trying to recover his equilibrium> b. a state of adjustment between opposing or divergent influences or elements 2. a state of balance between opposing forces or actions that is either static (as in a body acted on by forces whose resultant is zero) or dynamic (as in a reversible chemical reaction when the rates of reaction in both directions are equal) 3. balance 6a

Britannica Concise

Condition in which the net force acting on a particle is zero. A body in equilibrium experiences no acceleration and, unless disturbed by an outside force, will remain in equilibrium indefinitely. A stable equilibrium is one in which small, externally induced displacements from that state produce forces that tend to oppose the displacement and return the body to equilibrium. An unstable equilibrium is one in which the least departures produce forces tending to increase the displacement. A brick lying on the floor is in stable equilibrium, while a ball bearing balanced on a knife-edge is in unstable equilibrium.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (pl. equilibria or equilibriums) 1 a state of physical balance. 2 a state of mental or emotional equanimity. 3 a state in which the energy in a system is evenly distributed and forces, influences, etc., balance each other. Etymology: L (as EQUI-, libra balance)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Equilibrium E`qui*lib"ri*um, n.; pl. E. Equilibriums, L. Equilibria. [L. aequilibrium, fr. aequilibris in equilibrium, level; aequus equal + libra balance. See Equal, and Librate.] 1. Equality of weight or force; an equipoise or a state of rest produced by the mutual counteraction of two or more forces. 2. A level position; a just poise or balance in respect to an object, so that it remains firm; equipoise; as, to preserve the equilibrium of the body. Health consists in the equilibrium between those two powers. --Arbuthnot. 3. A balancing of the mind between motives or reasons, with consequent indecision and doubt. Equilibrium valve (Steam Engine), a balanced valve. See under Valve.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(equilibria) 1. Equilibrium is a balance between several different influences or aspects of a situation. (FORMAL) Stocks seesawed ever lower until prices found some new level of equilibrium... For the economy to be in equilibrium, income must equal expenditure. N-VAR 2. Someone's equilibrium is their normal calm state of mind. I paused in the hall to take three deep breaths to restore my equilibrium... N-UNCOUNT: oft poss N

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Equipoise, even balance, equality of weight, equality of pressure, neutralization of forces.

Moby Thesaurus

accordance, aplomb, assurance, balance, balanced personality, beauty, bilateral symmetry, calm, coequality, coextension, communion, community, concinnity, confidence, conformity, congruity, consistency, consonance, constancy, continuity, cool, corelation, correlation, correlativism, correlativity, correspondence, counterbalance, counterpoise, dynamic symmetry, equability, equality, equanimity, equation, equipoise, equipollence, equiponderance, equity, equivalence, equivalency, euphony, eurythmics, eurythmy, evenness, fastness, finish, firmness, harmony, homeostasis, homogeneity, identity, imperturbability, invariability, inverse proportion, inverse ratio, inverse relationship, justice, keeping, level head, levelheadedness, levelness, likeness, measure, measuredness, monolithism, multilateral symmetry, mutuality, nerve, order, orderedness, par, parallelism, parity, persistence, poise, polarity, possession, presence of mind, proportion, proportionality, reciprocality, reciprocation, reciprocity, regularity, relativity, reliability, restraint, rhythm, rootedness, sang-froid, secureness, security, self-assurance, self-command, self-confidence, self-control, self-possession, self-restraint, shapeliness, solidity, soundness, stability, stabilization, stable equilibrium, stable state, stasis, steadfastness, steadiness, steady nerves, steady state, substantiality, sweetness, symmetricalness, symmetry, trilateral symmetry, undeflectability, uniformity, unity, unruffledness, unshakable nerves, unshakableness, well-regulated mind