equilibrium

Noun

US[ee-kwuh-lib-ree-uhm]/ˌikwəˈlɪbriəm/5 syllables

Synonyms: chemical equilibrium balance equipoise counterbalance labyrinthine sense vestibular sense sense of balance sense of equilibrium

Open English WordNet

Noun (4)equilibria, equilibriums

a stable situation in which forces cancel one anotherOpposite disequilibriumType of situation, state of affairsKinds balance, balance of power, poise, Nash equilibrium, dynamic balance, isostasy, thermal equilibrium, homeostasis
a chemical reaction and its reverse proceed at equal ratesSynonyms: chemical equilibriumType of chemical reaction, reactionKinds acid-base equilibrium, acid-base balance
equality of distributionSynonyms: balance equipoise counterbalanceType of structure, constructionKinds symmetry, conformation
a sensory system located in structures of the inner ear that registers the orientation of the headSynonyms: labyrinthine sense vestibular sense sense of balance sense of equilibriumType of proprioception

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

E′qui·lib′ri·um noun; pl. E. Equilibriums (#), L. Equilibria (#).

Origin: 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.— John 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.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54