equilibrium

C2 Topic:Economics & Markets

US /ˌiːkwəˈlɪbriːəm/ UK /ɛkwɪˈlɪbɹɪəm/ See IPA manual

Freq #23040

Meanings

1

noun
A state of balance in which opposing forces or influences cancel each other out.

After months of turmoil, the market finally returned to a state of equilibrium.
2

noun
A calm and balanced state of mind.

She took a deep breath and slowly regained her equilibrium.
3

noun
In chemistry, the state where the forward and reverse reactions happen at the same rate.

The reaction reaches equilibrium when no further change can be measured.
4

noun
The body's sense of balance, controlled by structures in the inner ear.

An infection in his inner ear destroyed his equilibrium and left him dizzy.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a state of balance in which... balance stability

2 noun · a calm and balanced state... sanity

3 noun · in chemistry, the state... chemical equilibrium

4 noun · the body's sense of... sense of balancesense of equilibrium

Word family

Forms equilibriaequilibriums

Derived forms disequilibriumdysequilibriumequilibristhypoequilibriumisoequilibriumnonequilibriumphotoequilibriumpreequilibriumpseudoequilibriumquasiequilibriumreequilibriumsuperequilibrium

Related forms equilibrateequilibrioceptionequilibrize equivalence

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

thermal equilibrium
a state in which temperatures are equal and no net heat flows between the parts

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Latin aequilībrium, from equal + lībra (“balance”).

Topics

Economics & Markets Chemistry Physics Abstract Ideas

External links

# equilibrium

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌiːkwəˈlɪbriːəm/
**IPA (UK):** /ɛkwɪˈlɪbɹɪəm/
**Frequency rank:** 23040

## Meanings
1. A state of balance in which opposing forces or influences cancel each other out.
2. A calm and balanced state of mind.
3. In chemistry, the state where the forward and reverse reactions happen at the same rate.
4. The body's sense of balance, controlled by structures in the inner ear.

## Examples
- After months of turmoil, the market finally returned to a state of equilibrium.
- She took a deep breath and slowly regained her equilibrium.
- The reaction reaches equilibrium when no further change can be measured.
- An infection in his inner ear destroyed his equilibrium and left him dizzy.

## Derived Forms
- disequilibrium
- dysequilibrium
- equilibrist
- hypoequilibrium
- isoequilibrium
- nonequilibrium
- photoequilibrium
- preequilibrium
- pseudoequilibrium
- quasiequilibrium
- reequilibrium
- superequilibrium

## Related Forms
- equilibrate
- equilibrioception
- equilibrize
- equivalence

## Etymology
From Latin aequilībrium, from equal + lībra (“balance”).

## AI Etymology
Equilibrium is from Latin aequilībrium, from equal + lībra (“balance”). The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. Current senses include a state of balance in which opposing forces or influences cancel each other out and a calm and balanced state of mind. The wider family includes derived forms such as disequilibrium, dysequilibrium, equilibrist, hypoequilibrium, and isoequilibrium; related words such as equilibrate, equilibrioception, equilibrize, and equivalence.

## Topics
- Economics & Markets
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Abstract Ideas

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