English Meaning & Definitions
A weight that balances another weight, typically in a mechanical system such as an elevator, crane, or drawbridge.
- “The elevator uses a heavy counterweight to reduce the amount of energy required to lift the cabin.”
- “The crane's counterweight prevented it from tipping over while lifting the heavy steel beams.”
To act as a balancing force or weight against something else.
- “The company introduced new policies to counterweight the negative effects of the recent market downturn.”
- “The small rudder helps to counterweight the force of the wind on the sail.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “counterweight”.
Derived from the Middle English 'counter-' (from Old French 'contre-', meaning 'against') and 'weight' (from Old English 'wiht', meaning 'a weight, burden, or creature'). The term emerged in the late 14th century to describe a mass used to balance another, reflecting the mechanical principle of equilibrium.
Think of a 'counter' (a surface) that needs a 'weight' underneath it to keep it from tipping over.
Frequently Asked Questions About “counterweight”
1. What is the meaning of “counterweight” in English?
In English, counterweight (noun) is defined as: “A weight that balances another weight, typically in a mechanical system such as an elevator, crane, or drawbridge.”.
2. How do you use “counterweight” in a sentence?
“The elevator uses a heavy counterweight to reduce the amount of energy required to lift the cabin.”
3. What are English synonyms of “counterweight”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “counterweight”?
Derived from the Middle English 'counter-' (from Old French 'contre-', meaning 'against') and 'weight' (from Old English 'wiht', meaning 'a weight, burden, or creature'). The term emerged in the late 14th century to describe a mass used to balance another, reflecting the mechanical principle of equilibrium.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.