different between counterbalance vs counterweigh

English

Etymology

counter- +? balance.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ka?nt?(?)?bæl?ns/

Noun

counterbalance (plural counterbalances)

1. (literally) A weight that is put in opposition to an equal weight so it keeps that in balance.
2. (figuratively) A force or influence that balances, checks or limits an opposite one.

Synonyms

• counterpoise
• counterweight

Translations

Verb

counterbalance (third-person singular simple present counterbalances, present participle counterbalancing, simple past and past participle counterbalanced)

1. (transitive) To apply weight in order to balance an opposing weight.
   • 1660, Robert Boyle, New Experiments Physico-Mechanical: Touching the Spring of the Air and their Effects

   Synonyms: counterpoise, equiponderate, counterweight

   Hypernym: offset

   Antonym: outweigh

2. (transitive, figuratively) To match or equal in effect when applying opposing force

   Synonyms: counterpoise, counteract

   Antonyms: overcome, overpower

Translations

English

Etymology

From counter- +? weigh, under the influence Anglo-Norman contrepeser (“to counterpoise”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ka?nt??we?/

Verb

counterweigh (third-person singular simple present counterweighs, present participle counterweighing, simple past and past participle counterweighed)

1. (intransitive) To act as counterbalance (against something).
2. (transitive) To counterbalance; to balance out.
   • 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin 2010, p. 709:

     Yet Francis's favour could not counterweigh the disastrous flaw in European Christian mission in Africa, its association with the Portuguese slave trade.