Poise vs. Aplomb — What's the Difference?

Graceful and elegant bearing in a person

In classical ballet, aplomb (French pronunciation: ​[aplɔ̃]) refers to an unwavering stability maintained during a vertical pose or movement. The word is of French origin, coming from à plomb, "according to the plummet".French ballet master Jean-Étienne Despréaux used the term in 1806 to refer to the dynamic balancing that is fundamental to all well-executed ballet positions and movements.

Balance; equilibrium

Self-confident assurance; poise

A unit of dynamic viscosity, such that a tangential force of one dyne per square centimetre causes a velocity change one centimetre per second between two parallel planes separated by one centimetre in a liquid.

Self-confidence; poise; composure.

Be or cause to be balanced or suspended

(ballet) The apparent elegance and precision exhibited by a confident, accomplished dancer.

To carry or hold in equilibrium; balance

The perpendicular; perpendicularity.

To cause to be ready or about to do something

Assurance of manner or of action; self-possession.

To be balanced or held in suspension

Great coolness and composure under strain;

Confident composure; self-possession

Bearing of the body, especially when graceful

A centimeter-gram-second unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter.

A state of balance, equilibrium or stability.

Composure; freedom from embarrassment or affectation.

Mien; bearing or deportment of the head or body.

A condition of hovering, or being suspended.

(physics) A CGS unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimetre.

(obsolete) Weight; an amount of weight, the amount something weighs.

The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance the substance weighed.

That which causes a balance; a counterweight.

(obsolete) To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt.

(obsolete) To counterpoise; to counterbalance.

(obsolete) To be of a given weight; to weigh.

(obsolete) To add weight to, to weigh down.

To hold (something) with or against something else in equilibrium; to balance, counterpose.

To hold (something) in equilibrium, to hold balanced and ready; to carry (something) ready to be used.

To keep (something) in equilibrium; to hold suspended or balanced.

To ascertain, as if by balancing; to weigh.

Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend; heaviness.

The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance the substance weighed.

The state of being balanced by equal weight or power; equipoise; balance; equilibrium; rest.

That which causes a balance; a counterweight.

A dignified and self-confident manner; graceful composure and tact in handling difficult social situations.

To balance; to make of equal weight; as, to poise the scales of a balance.

To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance.

To counterpoise; to counterbalance.

To ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh.

To weigh (down); to oppress.

To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt.

A cgs unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter; the viscosity of a fluid in which a force of one dyne per square centimeter maintains a velocity of 1 centimeter per second

A state of being balanced in a stable equilibrium

Great coolness and composure under strain;

Be motionless, in suspension;

Prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult

Cause to be balanced or suspended

Hold or carry in equilibrium