balance beam
Americannoun
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a narrow wooden rail about 16 feet (5 meters) long and 4 inches (10 centimeters) wide, set horizontally on upright posts about 4 feet (1.2 meters) from the floor, used for performing feats of balancing and demonstrating gymnastic ability.
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a competitive gymnastic event for women in which such an apparatus is used.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of balance beam
First recorded in 1945–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On the balance beam, Katelyn Rosen started with a 9.750 and Barros posted a 9.850.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 2026
During the third rotation, the Bruins moved to the balance beam, an event they struggled with during their third place finish in Utah last week.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 17, 2026
The Bruins needed their best on balance beam to advance to nationals, entering the final rotation just .250 ahead of Denver.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2025
In exhibition routines, Rosen scored 9.8 or higher in balance beam, uneven bars and floor exercise.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2025
Yin Lan-lan jumped up from the balance beam and roared at me.
From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
