equilibrate

American  

[ih-kwil-uh-breyt, ee-kwuh-lahy-breyt, ek-wuh-] / ɪˈkwɪl əˌbreɪt, ˌi kwəˈlaɪ breɪt, ˌɛk wə- /

verb (used with object)

equilibrated, equilibrating

1. to balance equally; keep in equipoise or equilibrium.

2. to be in equilibrium with; counterpoise.

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verb (used without object)

equilibrated, equilibrating

1. to be in equilibrium; balance.

equilibrate British  

/ ˌiːkwɪˈlaɪbreɪt, ˌiːkwɪlaɪˈbreɪʃən, ɪˈkwɪlɪˌbreɪt, ɪˈkwɪlɪˌbreɪtə, ɪˌkwɪlɪ- /

verb

1. to bring to or be in equilibrium; balance

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Other Word Forms

• equilibration
  noun
• equilibrator
  noun
• unequilibrated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of equilibrate

1625–35; < Late Latin aequilībrātus, past participle of aequilībrāre to be in equilibrium; see -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Without the sunlight — an external source of energy — the temperature of the rod will equilibrate to the temperature of its environment.

From Salon • Aug. 12, 2023

“Whenever there is a new recommendation, there are the early adopters who are extremely eager to want to get that booster right now,” she said, adding that “supply and demand will equilibrate in short order.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 4, 2021

So we predict that as gender ratios of the faculty equilibrate in the future and male and female professors gain experience at an equal rate, this subtle mean difference will go away entirely.

From Slate • Apr. 17, 2018

The storm could equilibrate and continue sticking around, or it could dissipate.

From National Geographic • Feb. 21, 2018

A Rule to equilibrate Solids in the water.

From Discourse on Floating Bodies by Galilei, Galileo