balance wheel

noun

Horology.

1. balance.

balance wheel

noun

1. a wheel oscillating against the hairspring of a timepiece, thereby regulating its beat

Word History and Origins

Origin of balance wheel¹

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

Public colleges and universities have long been known as the balance wheel in state budgets.

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I observed with special delight as a watchmaker inserted a balance wheel into a new watch, and it came to life for the first time.

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In bad times, states often use their higher education funds as the balance wheel to keep their budget in order.

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The watch’s mechanisms — including its “balance wheel,” whose oscillation is visible through an opening in the watch face — are so precise that the device loses or gains only two seconds a day.

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We sat down and did a "balance wheel," writing down all the different aspects of my life so I could figure out what I needed to work on.

Read more on Los Angeles Times