| 1. | (of a person) composed, dignified, and self-assured. |
| 2. | being in balance or equilibrium: a balloon poised on the nose of a seal. |
| 3. | teetering or wavering: to be poised on the brink of disaster. |
| 4. | hovering or suspended in or as in midair: a bird poised in flight; a helicopter poised overhead. |
noun, verb, poised, pois⋅ing.| 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. |
| 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. |
| 11. | to rest in equilibrium; be balanced. |
| 12. | to hover, as a bird in the air. |

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