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11 dictionary results for: Poise

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

poise1

[poiz] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, poised, pois·ing.

–noun

1.	a state of balance or equilibrium, as from equality or equal distribution of weight; equipoise.

2.	a dignified, self-confident manner or bearing; composure; self-possession: to show poise in company.

3.	steadiness; stability: intellectual poise.

4.	suspense or wavering, as between rest and motion or two phases of motion: the poise of the tides.

5.	the way of being poised, held, or carried.

6.	the state or position of hovering: the poise of a bird in the air.

–verb (used with object)

7.	to adjust, hold, or carry in equilibrium; balance evenly.

8.	to hold supported or raised, as in position for casting, using, etc.: to poise a spear.

9.	to hold or carry in a particular manner: She walked, carefully poising a water jug on her head.

10.	Obsolete. to weigh.

–verb (used without object)

11.	to rest in equilibrium; be balanced.

12.	to hover, as a bird in the air.

[Origin: 1350–1400; (n.) ME pois(e) weight < OF (F poids) < LL pénsum, n. use of neut. ptp. of L pendere to weigh; (v.) ME poisen to weigh < OF poiser, var., based on tonic s., of peser < L pénsāre, freq. of pendere

]

—Synonyms 2. self-assurance; polish, grace, refinement.

—Antonyms 1, 3. instability.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

poise2

[pwahz] Pronunciation Key

–noun Physics.

a centimeter-gram-second unit of viscosity, equal to the viscosity of a fluid in which a stress of one dyne per square centimeter is required to maintain a difference of velocity of one centimeter per second between two parallel planes in the fluid that lie in the direction of flow and are separated by a distance of one centimeter. Symbol: P

[Origin: 1910–15; < F; namedafter Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille (1799–1869), French physician

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

poise¹   (poiz) Pronunciation Key
v.   poised, pois·ing, pois·es

v.   tr.
To carry or hold in equilibrium; balance.

v.   intr.
To be balanced or held in suspension; hover.

n.

A state of balance or equilibrium; stability.
Freedom from affectation or embarrassment; composure.
The bearing or deportment of the head or body; mien.
A state or condition of hovering or being suspended.

[Middle English poisen, to balance, weigh, from Old French peser, pois-, from Vulgar Latin *pēsāre, from Latin pēnsāre; see (s)pen- in Indo-European roots.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

poise² (poiz; pwäz) Pronunciation Key
n. A centimeter-gram-second unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter.

[French, after Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille (1799-1869), French physician and physiologist.]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
poise (n.)

1421, "weight, quality of being heavy," later "significance, importance" (1457), from O.Fr. pois "weight, balance, consideration," from M.L. pesum "weight," from L. pensum, noun use of neuter pp. of pendere "to weigh" (see pendant). The sense of "steadiness, composure" first recorded 1649, from notion of being equally weighted on either side (1555). The verb is first recorded 1389, "to have a certain weight," from O.Fr. peser, from V.L. pesare, from L. pensare "to weigh carefully," freq. of pendere (pp. pensus) "to weigh." Passive sense of "to be ready" (to do something) is from 1932.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

poise
noun
1.	a cgs unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter; the viscosity of a fluid in which a force of one dyne per square centimeter maintains a velocity of 1 centimeter per second
2.	a state of being balanced in a stable equilibrium
3.	great coolness and composure under strain; "keep your cool" [syn: aplomb]
verb
1.	be motionless, in suspension; "The bird poised for a few moments before it attacked"
2.	prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult [syn: brace]
3.	cause to be balanced or suspended
4.	hold or carry in equilibrium

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The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

poise (poiz, pwäz) Pronunciation Key

The unit of dynamic viscosity in the centimeter-gram-second system, equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter, or 0.1 pascal-seconds.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

poise (poiz, pwäz)
n.
A centimeter-gram-second unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Poise

Poise\, n. [OE. pois, peis, OF. pois, peis, F. poids, fr. L. pensum a portion weighed out, pendere to weigh, weigh out. Cf. Avoirdupois, Pendant, Poise, v.] [Formerly written also peise.]

1. Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend; heaviness. "Weights of an extraordinary poise." --Evelyn.

2. The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance the substance weighed.

3. The state of being balanced by equal weight or power; equipoise; balance; equilibrium; rest. --Bentley.

4. That which causes a balance; a counterweight.

Men of unbounded imagination often want the poise of judgment. --Dryden.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Poise

Poise\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Poised, ; p. pr. & vb. n. Poising.] [OE. poisen, peisen, OF. & F. peser, to weigh, balance, OF. il peise, il poise, he weighs, F. il p[`e]se, fr. L. pensare, v. intens. fr. pendere to weigh. See Poise, n., and cf. Pensive.] [Formerly written also peise.]

1. To balance; to make of equal weight; as, to poise the scales of a balance.

2. To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance.

Nor yet was earth suspended in the sky; Nor poised, did on her own foundation lie. --Dryden.

3. To counterpoise; to counterbalance.

One scale of reason to poise another of sensuality. --Shak.

To poise with solid sense a sprightly wit. --Dryden.

4. To ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh.

He can not sincerely consider the strength, poise the weight, and discern the evidence. --South.

5. To weigh (down); to oppress. [Obs.]

Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow. --Shak.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This