counterweight
/ˈkaʊntəweɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkaʊntərweɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌwāt/ (ame, mw)
counterweight — noun
- counterweightsingular
- counterweightsplural
1. A heavy object placed on one side of a mechanical system to balance the weight o
A heavy object placed on one side of a mechanical system to balance the weight or force acting on the opposite side.
The tower crane relies on a concrete counterweight to lift steel beams without falling over.
collocation: concrete counterweight / rely on a counterweight
Emma added a small counterweight to the other side of the scale so the tray stayed level.
When the elevator car rises, its counterweight travels downward inside the shaft.
Kwame designed a wooden counterweight for the drawbridge using old iron bars and cement.
Without a proper counterweight, the flagpole could bend under the weight of the large fabric banner.
- counterbalance
Can be physical or abstract; 'counterweight' always refers to a concrete physical object
- balance weight
More technical engineering term for the same physical object
用法筆記
Often used with the verbs 'act as' and 'serve as' to describe the balancing function (e.g., 'The sandbags acted as a counterweight'). The counterweight is typically a block of concrete, metal, or another dense material.