COUNTERPOISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does counterpoise mean? 

• COUNTERPOISE (noun)
  The noun COUNTERPOISE has 1 sense:

1. a weight that balances another weight

  Familiarity information: COUNTERPOISE used as a noun is very rare.

• COUNTERPOISE (verb)
  The verb COUNTERPOISE has 1 sense:

1. constitute a counterweight or counterbalance to

  Familiarity information: COUNTERPOISE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COUNTERPOISE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A weight that balances another weight

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

balance; counterbalance; counterpoise; counterweight; equaliser; equalizer

Hypernyms ("counterpoise" is a kind of...):

weight (an artifact that is heavy)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "counterpoise"):

sash weight (a counterweight for a sliding sash)

tare ((chemical analysis) a counterweight used in chemical analysis; consists of an empty container that counterbalances the weight of the container holding chemicals)

Derivation:

counterpoise (constitute a counterweight or counterbalance to)

• COUNTERPOISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they counterpoise    ... he / she / it counterpoises   
Past simple: counterpoised   
Past participle: counterpoised   
-ing form: counterpoising   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Constitute a counterweight or counterbalance to

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

counterpoise; counterpose; counterweight

Hypernyms (to "counterpoise" is one way to...):

counterbalance; oppose (contrast with equal weight or force)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

counterpoise (a weight that balances another weight)

 Context examples 

On the other hand, the delight of exploring an edifice like Udolpho, as her fancy represented Blaize Castle to be, was such a counterpoise of good as might console her for almost anything.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The whole extent of this prince’s dominions reaches about six thousand miles in length, and from three to five in breadth: whence I cannot but conclude, that our geographers of Europe are in a great error, by supposing nothing but sea between Japan and California; for it was ever my opinion, that there must be a balance of earth to counterpoise the great continent of Tartary; and therefore they ought to correct their maps and charts, by joining this vast tract of land to the north-west parts of America, wherein I shall be ready to lend them my assistance.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)