Balance vs. Scale — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Balance and Scale
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Balance
See Libra.
Scale
One of the many small hard dermal or epidermal structures that characteristically form the external covering of fishes and reptiles and certain mammals, such as pangolins.
Balance
A weighing device, especially one consisting of a rigid beam horizontally suspended by a low-friction support at its center, with identical weighing pans hung at either end, one of which holds an unknown weight while the effective weight in the other is increased by known amounts until the beam is level and motionless. Also called scale.
Scale
A similar part in other animals, such as one of the thin flat overlapping structures that cover the wings of butterflies and moths.
Balance
A state of equilibrium or parity characterized by cancellation of all forces by equal opposing forces.
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Scale
A small, thin, often flattened plant structure, such as one of the modified leaves that cover a tree bud or one of the structures that bear the reproductive organs on the cones of a conifer.
Balance
The power or means to decide
Matters that fell outside the judge's balance.
Scale
A dry thin flake of epidermis shed from the skin.
Balance
A state of bodily equilibrium
Thrown off balance by a gust of wind.
Scale
A skin lesion or lesions marked by such flakes.
Balance
The ability to maintain bodily equilibrium
Gymnasts must have good balance.
Scale
A scale insect.
Balance
A harmonious or satisfying arrangement or proportion of parts or elements, as in a design.
Scale
A plant disease or infestation caused by scale insects.
Balance
An influence or force tending to produce equilibrium; counterpoise.
Scale
A flaky oxide film formed on a metal, as on iron, that has been heated to high temperatures.
Balance
The difference in magnitude between opposing forces or influences.
Scale
A flake of rust.
Balance
Equality of totals in the debit and credit sides of an account.
Scale
A hard mineral coating that forms on the inside surface of boilers, kettles, and other containers in which water is repeatedly heated.
Balance
The difference between such totals, either on the credit or the debit side.
Scale
A system of ordered marks at fixed intervals used as a reference standard in measurement
A ruler whose scale is in inches.
Balance
Something that is left over; a remainder.
Scale
An instrument or device bearing such marks.
Balance
(Chemistry) Equality of mass and net electric charge of reacting species on each side of an equation.
Scale
A standard of measurement or judgment; a criterion.
Balance
(Mathematics) Equality with respect to the net number of reduced symbolic quantities on each side of an equation.
Scale
A proportion used in determining the dimensional relationship of a representation to that which it represents
A world map with a scale of 1:4,560,000.
Balance
A balance wheel.
Scale
A calibrated line, as on a map or an architectural plan, indicating such a proportion.
Balance
To determine the weight of (something) in a weighing device.
Scale
Proper proportion
A house that seemed out of scale with its surroundings.
Balance
To consider and compare or assess
Balanced the pros and cons before making a choice.
Scale
A progressive classification, as of size, amount, importance, or rank
Judging divers' performances on a scale of 1 to 10.
Balance
To bring into or maintain in a state of equilibrium.
Scale
A relative level or degree
Entertained on a lavish scale.
Balance
To act as an equalizing weight or force to; counterbalance.
Scale
A minimum wage fixed by contract
Musicians playing a benefit concert for scale.
Balance
To compute the difference between the debits and credits of (an account).
Scale
(Mathematics) A system of notation in which the values of numerical expressions are determined by their places relative to the chosen base of the system
The decimal scale.
Balance
To reconcile or equalize the sums of the debits and credits of (an account).
Scale
(Music) An ascending or descending collection of pitches proceeding by a specified scheme of intervals.
Balance
To settle (an account, for example) by paying what is owed.
Scale
An instrument or machine for weighing.
Balance
To bring into or keep in equal or satisfying proportion or harmony.
Scale
Often scales See balance.
Balance
Mathematics & Chemistry To bring (an equation) into balance.
Scale
Either of the pans, trays, or dishes of a balance.
Balance
To move toward and then away from (a dance partner).
Scale
To clear or strip of scale or scales
Scale and clean the fish.
Balance
To be in or come into equilibrium.
Scale
To remove in layers or scales
Scaled off the old paint.
Balance
To be equal or equivalent.
Scale
To cover with scales; encrust.
Balance
To sway or waver as if losing or regaining equilibrium.
Scale
To throw or propel (a thin flat object) through the air or along a surface, such as water or ice.
Balance
To move toward and then away from a dance partner.
Scale
(Dentistry) To remove (tartar) from tooth surfaces with a pointed instrument.
Balance
(uncountable) A state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium.
Scale
To cheat; swindle.
Balance
(uncountable) Mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed.
Scale
To ride on (a tram, for example) without paying the fare.
Balance
Something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium; counterweight.
These weights are used as a balance for the overhanging verandah
Blair thought he could provide a useful balance to Bush's policies.
Scale
To come off in scales or layers; flake.
Balance
A pair of scales.
Scale
To become encrusted.
Balance
(uncountable) Awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity.
Scale
To climb up or over; ascend
Scaled the peak.
Balance
(uncountable) The overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.; the influence which ultimately "weighs" more than others.
The balance of power finally lay with the Royalist forces.
I think the balance of opinion is that we should get out while we're ahead.
Scale
To make in accord with a particular proportion or scale
Scale the model to be one tenth of actual size.
Balance
(uncountable) Apparent harmony in art (between differing colours, sounds, etc.).
Scale
To alter according to a standard or by degrees; adjust in calculated amounts
Scaled down their demands.
Scaled back the scheduled pay increase.
Balance
(accounting) A list accounting for the debits on one side, and for the credits on the other.
Scale
To estimate or measure the quantity of lumber in (logs or uncut trees).
Balance
(accounting) The result of such a procedure; the difference between credit and debit of an account.
I just need to nip to a bank and check my balance.
Scale
To climb; ascend.
Balance
(watchmaking) A device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc.
Scale
To rise in steps or stages.
Balance
The remainder.
The balance of the agreement remains in effect.
The invoice said he had only paid $50. The balance was $220.
Scale
To weigh with a scale.
Balance
Libra.
Scale
To have a given weight, as determined by a scale
Cargo that scales 11 tons.
Balance
(transitive) To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights.
Scale
(obsolete) A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending.
Balance
To make (concepts) agree.
Scale
An ordered, usually numerical sequence used for measurement, means of assigning a magnitude.
Please rate your experience on a scale from 1 to 10.
The magnitude of an earthquake is measured on the open-ended Richter scale.
Balance
(transitive) To hold (an object or objects) precariously; to support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling.
I balanced my mug of coffee on my knee.
The circus performer balances a plate on the end of a baton.
Scale
Size; scope.
On an enormous scale was a blood-feast.
There are some who question the scale of our ambitions.
Balance
(transitive) To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.
Scale
The ratio of depicted distance to actual distance.
This map uses a scale of 1:10.
Balance
To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally.
To balance partners
Scale
A line or bar associated with a drawing, used to indicate measurement when the image has been magnified or reduced.
Balance
(nautical) To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass.
To balance the boom mainsail
Scale
(music) A series of notes spanning an octave, tritave, or pseudo-octave, used to make melodies.
Balance
(transitive) To make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond.
This final payment, or credit, balances the account.
To balance a set of books
Scale
A mathematical base for a numeral system; radix.
The decimal scale; the binary scale
Balance
(intransitive) To be in equilibrium.
Scale
Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order.
Balance
(intransitive) To have matching credits and debits.
Scale
A standard amount of money to be received by a performer or writer, negotiated by a union.
Sally wasn't the star of the show, so she was glad to be paid scale.
Balance
To weigh in a balance.
Scale
Part of an overlapping arrangement of many small, flat and hard pieces of keratin covering the skin of an animal, particularly a fish or reptile.
Balance
To hesitate or fluctuate.
Scale
A small piece of pigmented chitin, many of which coat the wings of a butterfly or moth to give them their color.
Balance
An apparatus for weighing.
Scale
A flake of skin of an animal afflicted with dermatitis.
Balance
Act of weighing mentally; comparison; estimate.
A fair balance of the advantages on either side.
Scale
Part of an overlapping arrangement of many small, flat and hard protective layers forming a pinecone that flare when mature to release pine nut seeds.
Balance
Equipoise between the weights in opposite scales.
Scale
The flaky material sloughed off heated metal.
Mill scale
Balance
The state of being in equipoise; equilibrium; even adjustment; steadiness.
And hung a bottle on each sideTo make his balance true.
The order and balance of the country were destroyed.
English workmen completely lose their balance.
Scale
Scale mail (as opposed to chain mail).
Balance
An equality between the sums total of the two sides of an account; as, to bring one's accounts to a balance; - also, the excess on either side; as, the balance of an account.
I still think the balance of probabilities leans towards the account given in the text.
Scale
Limescale.
Balance
A balance wheel, as of a watch, or clock. See Balance wheel (in the Vocabulary).
Scale
A scale insect.
Balance
The constellation Libra.
Scale
The thin metallic side plate of the handle of a pocketknife.
Balance
To bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights; to weigh in a balance.
Scale
A device to measure mass or weight.
After the long, lazy winter I was afraid to get on the scale.
Balance
To support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling; as, to balance a plate on the end of a cane; to balance one's self on a tight rope.
Scale
Either of the pans, trays, or dishes of a balance or scales.
Balance
To equal in number, weight, force, or proportion; to counterpoise, counterbalance, counteract, or neutralize.
One expression . . . must check and balance another.
Scale
(transitive) To change the size of something whilst maintaining proportion; especially to change a process in order to produce much larger amounts of the final product.
We should scale that up by a factor of 10.
Balance
To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.
Balance the good and evil of things.
Scale
(transitive) To climb to the top of.
Hilary and Norgay were the first known to have scaled Everest.
Balance
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.
Scale
To tolerate significant increases in throughput or other potentially limiting factors.
That architecture won't scale to real-world environments.
Balance
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.
Scale
(transitive) To weigh, measure or grade according to a scale or system.
Balance
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.
Scale
(transitive) To remove the scales of.
Please scale that fish for dinner.
Balance
To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally; as, to balance partners.
Scale
(intransitive) To become scaly; to produce or develop scales.
The dry weather is making my skin scale.
Balance
To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass; as, to balance the boom mainsail.
Scale
(transitive) To strip or clear of scale; to descale.
To scale the inside of a boiler
Balance
To have equal weight on each side; to be in equipoise; as, the scales balance.
Scale
(transitive) To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface.
Balance
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.
Scale
(intransitive) To separate and come off in thin layers or laminae.
Some sandstone scales by exposure.
Balance
To move toward a person or couple, and then back.
Scale
To scatter; to spread.
Balance
A state of equilibrium
Scale
(transitive) To clean, as the inside of a cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder.
Balance
A scale for weighing; depends on pull of gravity
Scale
The dish of a balance; hence, the balance itself; an instrument or machine for weighing; as, to turn the scale; - chiefly used in the plural when applied to the whole instrument or apparatus for weighing. Also used figuratively.
Long time in even scaleThe battle hung.
The scales are turned; her kindness weighs no moreNow than my vows.
Balance
Equality between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account
Scale
The sign or constellation Libra.
Balance
Harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole (as in a design);
In all perfectly beautiful objects there is found the opposition of one part to another and a reciprocal balance
Scale
One of the small, thin, membranous, bony or horny pieces which form the covering of many fishes and reptiles, and some mammals, belonging to the dermal part of the skeleton, or dermoskeleton. See Cycloid, Ctenoid, and Ganoid.
Fish that, with their fins and shining scales,Glide under the green wave.
Balance
Equality of distribution
Scale
Hence, any layer or leaf of metal or other material, resembling in size and thinness the scale of a fish; as, a scale of iron, of bone, etc.
Balance
Something left after other parts have been taken away;
There was no remainder
He threw away the rest
He took what he wanted and I got the balance
Scale
One of the small scalelike structures covering parts of some invertebrates, as those on the wings of Lepidoptera and on the body of Thysanura; the elytra of certain annelids. See Lepidoptera.
Balance
The difference between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account
Scale
A scale insect. (See below.
Balance
(astrology) a person who is born while the sun in in Libra
Scale
A small appendage like a rudimentary leaf, resembling the scales of a fish in form, and often in arrangement; as, the scale of a bud, of a pine cone, and the like. The name is also given to the chaff on the stems of ferns.
Balance
The seventh sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about September 23 to October 22
Scale
The thin metallic side plate of the handle of a pocketknife. See Illust. of Pocketknife.
Balance
(mathematics) an attribute of a shape or relation; exact correspondence of form on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane
Scale
An incrustation deposit on the inside of a vessel in which water is heated, as a steam boiler.
Balance
An equivalent counterbalancing weight
Scale
The thin oxide which forms on the surface of iron forgings. It consists essentially of the magnetic oxide, Fe3O4. Also, a similar coating upon other metals.
Balance
A wheel that regulates the rate of movement in a machine; especially a wheel oscillating against the hairspring of a timepiece to regulate its beat
Scale
A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending.
Balance
Bring into balance or equilibrium;
She has to balance work and her domestic duties
Balance the two weights
Scale
Hence, anything graduated, especially when employed as a measure or rule, or marked by lines at regular intervals.
Balance
Compute credits and debits of an account
Scale
Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order; as, a scale of being.
There is a certain scale of duties . . . which for want of studying in right order, all the world is in confusion.
Balance
Hold or carry in equilibrium
Scale
Relative dimensions, without difference in proportion of parts; size or degree of the parts or components in any complex thing, compared with other like things; especially, the relative proportion of the linear dimensions of the parts of a drawing, map, model, etc., to the dimensions of the corresponding parts of the object that is represented; as, a map on a scale of an inch to a mile.
Balance
Be in equilibrium;
He was balancing on one foot
Scale
To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system.
Scaling his present bearing with his past.
Scale
To strip or clear of scale or scales; as, to scale a fish; to scale the inside of a boiler.
Scale
To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface.
Scale
To scatter; to spread.
Scale
To clean, as the inside of a cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder.
Scale
To separate and come off in thin layers or laminæ; as, some sandstone scales by exposure.
Those that cast their shell are the lobster and crab; the old skins are found, but the old shells never; so it is likely that they scale off.
Scale
To separate; to scatter.
Scale
To climb by a ladder, or as if by a ladder; to ascend by steps or by climbing; to clamber up; as, to scale the wall of a fort.
Oft have I scaled the craggy oak.
Scale
To lead up by steps; to ascend.
Satan from hence, now on the lower stair,That scaled by steps of gold to heaven-gate,Looks down with wonder.
Scale
An ordered reference standard;
Judging on a scale of 1 to 10
Scale
Relative magnitude;
They entertained on a grand scale
Scale
The ratio between the size of something and a representation of it;
The scale of the map
The scale of the model
Scale
An indicator having a graduated sequence of marks
Scale
A specialized leaf or bract that protects a bud or catkin
Scale
A thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin
Scale
(music) a series of notes differing in pitch according to a specific scheme (usually within an octave)
Scale
A measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass
Scale
A metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)
Scale
A flattened rigid plate forming part of the body covering of many animals
Scale
Measure by or as if by a scale;
This bike scales only 25 pounds
Scale
Pattern, make, regulate, set, measure, or estimate according to some rate or standard
Scale
Take by attacking with scaling ladders;
The troops scaled the walls of the fort
Scale
Reach the highest point of;
We scaled the Mont Blanc
Scale
Climb up by means of a ladder
Scale
Remove the scales from;
Scale fish
Scale
Measure with or as if with scales;
Scale the gold
Scale
Size or measure according to a scale;
This model must be scaled down
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