---
title: counterbalance — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «counterbalance» in the school dictionary: A weight that balances another weight. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# counterbalance

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** weight, crane, lift, counterbalance, Good food, her · **What happens:** balance, have, put, make up, use, counterbalance · **To what, where:** weight, equal effect, something, other side, opposite effect, heavy counterbalance

<!-- .vabout -->
«counterbalance» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [counterbalance in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/counterbalance.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A weight that balances another weight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterbalance:m1:1
# text = A weight that balances another weight.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	weight	weight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	balances	balance	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	weight	weight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **balance** | present | a weight | another weight |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location weight=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something that has an equal and opposite effect to something else.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterbalance:m2:1
# text = Something that has an equal and opposite effect to something else.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	equal	equal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	opposite	opposite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	effect	effect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nmod	_	_
11	else	else	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present |  | a equal effect |  |  |  | to something | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent effect=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To balance something by putting weight or force on the other side.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterbalance:m3:1
# text = To balance something by putting weight or force on the other side.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	balance	balance	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	putting	put	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	weight	weight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **balance** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location something=Theme |
| 2 | **put** | gerund |  | weight or force |  | the other side |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent weight=Theme on side=Destination |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make up for something by having an opposite effect.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterbalance:m4:1
# text = To make up for something by having an opposite effect.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	opposite	opposite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	effect	effect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make up** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for something | vn comprise-107.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | gerund |  | a opposite effect |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent effect=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crane uses a heavy counterbalance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterbalance:x1:1
# text = The crane uses a heavy counterbalance.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crane	crane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	counterbalance	counterbalance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | the crane | a heavy counterbalance |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent counterbalance=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On the see-saw, Dad's weight counterbalanced both of us.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterbalance:x2:1
# text = On the see-saw, Dad's weight counterbalanced both of us.
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	see	see	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	saw	saw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	weight	weight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	counterbalanced	counterbalance	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	obj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **counterbalance** | past | Dad's weight | both |  | the see saw |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lift has a counterbalance to make it easier to move.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterbalance:x3:1
# text = The lift has a counterbalance to make it easier to move.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lift	lift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	counterbalance	counterbalance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	easier	easy	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	xcomp	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the lift | a counterbalance |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent counterbalance=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | the lift *not said here* | counterbalance |  |  |  | easy *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |
| 3 | **move** | to-infinitive | counterbalance *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Good food counterbalanced the long walk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterbalance:x4:1
# text = Good food counterbalanced the long walk.
1	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	counterbalanced	counterbalance	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	walk	walk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **counterbalance** | past | Good food | the long walk |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His calm counterbalances her excitement.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterbalance:x5:1
# text = His calm counterbalances her excitement.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	counterbalances	counterbalance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	excitement	excitement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **excite** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom excitement «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Add weight to the other end to counterbalance the load.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterbalance:x6:1
# text = Add weight to the other end to counterbalance the load.
1	Add	add	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	weight	weight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	counterbalance	counterbalance	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	load	load	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | weight |  |  | to the other end |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent weight=Patient to end=Co-Patient |
| 2 | **counterbalance** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the load |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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