poise

1 of 3

verb

ˈpȯiz

poised; poising

transitive verb

: balance

especially : to hold or carry in equilibrium

carried a water jar poised on her head

: to hold supported or suspended without motion in a steady position

poised her fork and gave her guest a knowing look

Louis Bromfield

: to hold or carry (the head) in a particular way

: to put into readiness : brace

intransitive verb

: to become drawn up into readiness

: hover

poise

2 of 3

noun (1)

ˈpȯiz

: a stably balanced state : equilibrium

a poise between widely divergent impulses

F. R. Leavis

: easy self-possessed assurance of manner : gracious tact in coping or handling

also : the pleasantly tranquil interaction between persons of poise

no angry outbursts marred the poise of the meeting

: a particular way of carrying oneself : bearing, carriage

poise

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˈpwäz

: a centimeter-gram-second unit of viscosity equal to the viscosity of a fluid that would require a shearing force of one dyne to impart to a one-square-centimeter area of an arbitrary layer of the fluid a velocity of one centimeter per second relative to another layer separated from the first by a distance of one centimeter

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to weigh, ponder, from Anglo-French peiser, poiser, from Latin pensare — more at pensive

Noun (1)

Middle English poyse weight, heaviness, from Anglo-French peis, pois, from Latin pensum, from neuter of pensus, past participle of pendere to weigh — more at pendant

Noun (2)

French, from Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille †1869 French physician and anatomist

First Known Use

Verb

1597, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1913, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

poise 1 of 2

verb

ˈpȯiz

poised; poising

: to hold or make steady by balancing

A book was poised on her head.

: to remain in position without moving

… a serpent was poised ready to strike.

Lloyd Alexander, Time Cat

: to be or become ready for something

poise

2 of 2

noun

: the state of being balanced

: a natural self-confident manner

He spoke with great poise.

poise 1 of 2

noun

as in equilibrium

a condition in which opposing forces are equal to one another there must be a poise between the rights of the individual and the rights of society

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

equilibrium
balance
equipoise
stasis
steadiness
equilibration
stability
counterpoise
firmness
counterbalance
offset
security
fixedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

imbalance
unbalance
disequilibrium
nonequilibrium
instability
volatility
fluctuation
unsteadiness
insecurity
mutability
changeability
precariousness
shakiness
inconstancy
disequilibration

as in posture

a general way of holding the body the woman's poise suggested that she was accustomed to having her wishes carried out promptly and without question

Synonyms & Similar Words

posture
attitude
stance
demeanor
carriage
seat
presence
behavior
pose
attention
station
deportment
conduct
bearing
body language
mien
air
look
aspect

poise

2 of 2

verb

as in to brace

to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference

Synonyms & Similar Words

brace
fortify
nerve
ready
strengthen
steel
forearm
arm
comfort
bolster
sustain
enforce
psych (up)
reinforce
inspire
season
inure
toughen
support
boost
rally
harden
rouse
hearten
stir
buttress
embolden
encourage
reenforce
buoy (up)
prop (up)
cheer (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shake
unnerve
daunt
undermine
discourage
psych (out)
demoralize
soften
undercut
sap
dishearten
enervate
dispirit
tire
weaken
debilitate
prostrate
enfeeble

as in to hover

to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air the falcon poised in the air for an instant before diving to attack its prey

Synonyms & Similar Words

hover
float
glide
sail
swim
drift
bob
ride
waft
hang
suspend
dangle
buoy
balloon
raft

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sink
settle
dive
lunge
plunge
dip
immerse
submerge
submerse

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of poise are address, savoir faire, and tact. While all these words mean "skill and grace in dealing with others," poise may imply both tact and address but stresses self-possession and ease in meeting difficult situations.

answered the accusations with unruffled poise

The words address and poise can be used in similar contexts, but address stresses dexterity and grace in dealing with new and trying situations and may imply success in attaining one's ends.

brought it off with remarkable address

The words savoir faire and poise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, savoir faire is likely to stress worldly experience and a sure awareness of what is proper or expedient.

the savoir faire of a seasoned traveler

The meanings of tact and poise largely overlap; however, tact implies delicate and considerate perception of what is appropriate.

questions showing a lack of tact

单词	poise
释义	poise 1 of 3 verb ˈpȯiz poised; poising transitive verb 1 a : balance especially : to hold or carry in equilibrium carried a water jar poised on her head b : to hold supported or suspended without motion in a steady position poised her fork and gave her guest a knowing look Louis Bromfield 2 : to hold or carry (the head) in a particular way 3 : to put into readiness : brace intransitive verb 1 : to become drawn up into readiness 2 : hover poise 2 of 3 noun (1) ˈpȯiz 1 : a stably balanced state : equilibrium a poise between widely divergent impulses F. R. Leavis 2 a : easy self-possessed assurance of manner : gracious tact in coping or handling also : the pleasantly tranquil interaction between persons of poise no angry outbursts marred the poise of the meeting b : a particular way of carrying oneself : bearing, carriage poise 3 of 3 noun (2) ˈpwäz : a centimeter-gram-second unit of viscosity equal to the viscosity of a fluid that would require a shearing force of one dyne to impart to a one-square-centimeter area of an arbitrary layer of the fluid a velocity of one centimeter per second relative to another layer separated from the first by a distance of one centimeter Synonyms Verb brace forearm fortify nerve psych (up) ready steel strengthen Noun (1) balance counterpoise equilibration equilibrium equipoise stasis See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb She poised her pencil above the paper and waited for the signal to begin writing. the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference Word History Etymology Verb Middle English, to weigh, ponder, from Anglo-French peiser, poiser, from Latin pensare — more at pensive Noun (1) Middle English poyse weight, heaviness, from Anglo-French peis, pois, from Latin pensum, from neuter of pensus, past participle of pendere to weigh — more at pendant Noun (2) French, from Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille †1869 French physician and anatomist First Known Use Verb 1597, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a Noun (1) 1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (2) 1913, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing poise self-poise self-poise Kids Definition poise 1 of 2 verb ˈpȯiz poised; poising 1 : to hold or make steady by balancing A book was poised on her head. 2 : to remain in position without moving … a serpent was poised ready to strike. Lloyd Alexander, Time Cat 3 : to be or become ready for something poise 2 of 2 noun 1 : the state of being balanced 2 : a natural self-confident manner He spoke with great poise. Medical Definition poise noun ˈpȯiz ˈpwäz : a cgs unit of viscosity equal to the viscosity of a fluid that would require a shearing force of one dyne to impart to a one square-centimeter area of an arbitrary layer of the fluid a velocity of one centimeter per second relative to another layer separated from the first by a distance of one centimeter poise 1 of 2 noun 1 as in equilibrium a condition in which opposing forces are equal to one another there must be a poise between the rights of the individual and the rights of society Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance equilibrium balance equipoise stasis steadiness equilibration stability counterpoise firmness counterbalance offset security fixedness Antonyms & Near Antonyms imbalance unbalance disequilibrium nonequilibrium instability volatility fluctuation unsteadiness insecurity mutability changeability precariousness shakiness inconstancy disequilibration See More 2 as in posture a general way of holding the body the woman's poise suggested that she was accustomed to having her wishes carried out promptly and without question Synonyms & Similar Words posture attitude stance demeanor carriage seat presence behavior pose attention station deportment conduct bearing body language mien air look aspect poise 2 of 2 verb 1 as in to brace to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference Synonyms & Similar Words brace fortify nerve ready strengthen steel forearm arm comfort bolster sustain enforce psych (up) reinforce inspire season inure toughen support boost rally harden rouse hearten stir buttress embolden encourage reenforce buoy (up) prop (up) cheer (up) Antonyms & Near Antonyms shake unnerve daunt undermine discourage psych (out) demoralize soften undercut sap dishearten enervate dispirit tire weaken debilitate prostrate enfeeble See More 2 as in to hover to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air the falcon poised in the air for an instant before diving to attack its prey Synonyms & Similar Words hover float glide sail swim drift bob ride waft hang suspend dangle buoy balloon raft Antonyms & Near Antonyms sink settle dive lunge plunge dip immerse submerge submerse See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of poise are address, savoir faire, and tact. While all these words mean "skill and grace in dealing with others," poise may imply both tact and address but stresses self-possession and ease in meeting difficult situations. answered the accusations with unruffled poise The words address and poise can be used in similar contexts, but address stresses dexterity and grace in dealing with new and trying situations and may imply success in attaining one's ends. brought it off with remarkable address The words savoir faire and poise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, savoir faire is likely to stress worldly experience and a sure awareness of what is proper or expedient. the savoir faire of a seasoned traveler The meanings of tact and poise largely overlap; however, tact implies delicate and considerate perception of what is appropriate. questions showing a lack of tact
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poise

verb

noun (1)

noun (2)

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing poise

Kids Definition

verb

noun

Medical Definition

noun

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser