Poise

/pɔɪz/ · noun

Meaning

A state of balance, equilibrium or stability..

Definitions by Sense

1. A state of balance, equilibrium or stability.
2. Composure; freedom from embarrassment or affectation.
3. Mien; bearing or deportment of the head or body.
4. A condition of hovering, or being suspended.
5. (physics) A CGS unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimetre.
6. (obsolete) Weight; an amount of weight, the amount something weighs.
7. The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance the substance weighed.
8. That which causes a balance; a counterweight.

Example Sentences

plants and animals, which are all made up of and nourished by water, and perhaps never return to water again, do not keep things at a poise

Letterpress and offset gloss varnishes normally have viscosities varying from 50 to 250 poises; they must stain the paper as little as possible, have insufficient tack to cause plucking, […]

as an huge rockie clift, / Whose false foundation waues haue washt away, / With dreadfull poyse is from the mayneland rift, / […] So downe he fell […]

As for Hyperboles, I will neither quote Lucan, nor Statius, Men of an unbounded imagination, but who often wanted the Poyze of Judgement.

The slender, graceful spars / Poise aloft in the air.

1699, John Dryden, Epistle to John Dryden to poise with solid sense a sprightly wit

one scale of reason to poise another of sensuality

Every man poiseth [translating poise] upon his fellowes sinne, and elevates his owne.

Synonyms for poise

Antonyms for poise

Related Words

Word Forms

• poises
• poising
• poised

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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