counterweight

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈkaʊntɜrˌweɪt/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A weight that balances another weight, especially in a mechanical system such as a crane, elevator, or scale.; A force, influence, or factor that offsets or balances another.
  2. verb
    To balance or offset with a counterweight or equivalent force.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: counterweights 3rd sing.: counterweights Past: counterweighted Past part.: counterweighted Pres part.: counterweighting

Collocations

act as a counterweightserve as a counterweightprovide a counterweightcounterweight tocounterweight against

Derivatives

counterweighted

Synonyms

counterbalanceballastoffsetbalanceweight

Commonly confused

counterbalance
EN: 'Counterweight' typically refers to a physical weight used for mechanical balance; 'counterbalance' is broader and more often used in abstract or figurative contexts.

Spelling tips

EN: Write as one word ('counterweight'), not two ('counter weight'). The prefix 'counter-' is always joined without a hyphen in this word.

💬 Examples

  1. The elevator uses a counterweight to reduce the energy needed to move the car.

  2. The judiciary serves as a counterweight to the power of the executive branch.

  3. The architect counterweighted the cantilevered section to prevent structural failure.