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; -ate ¹

Example Sentences

I fear that those institutions are being so fundamentally damaged that their traditionally equilibrating mechanisms might not work.

From Barron's

I fear that those institutions are being so fundamentally damaged that their traditionally equilibrating mechanisms might not work.

From Barron's

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

From Salon

“There are still a lot of equilibrating mechanisms built into our system — not just political, but economic,” Putnam said.

From Los Angeles Times

“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