equilibrate

American  

[ih-kwil-uh-breyt, ee-kwuh-lahy-breyt, ek-wuh-] / ɪˈkwɪl əˌbreɪt, ˌi kwəˈlaɪ breɪt, ˌɛk wə- /

verb (used with object)

equilibrated, equilibrating

1. to balance equally; keep in equipoise or equilibrium.

2. to be in equilibrium with; counterpoise.

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verb (used without object)

equilibrated, equilibrating

1. to be in equilibrium; balance.

equilibrate British  

/ ˌiːkwɪˈlaɪbreɪt, ˌiːkwɪlaɪˈbreɪʃən, ɪˈkwɪlɪˌbreɪt, ɪˈkwɪlɪˌbreɪtə, ɪˌkwɪlɪ- /

verb

1. to bring to or be in equilibrium; balance

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Other Word Forms

• equilibration noun
• equilibrator noun
• unequilibrated adjective

Etymology

Origin of equilibrate

1625–35; < Late Latin aequilībrātus, past participle of aequilībrāre to be in equilibrium; -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Without the sunlight — an external source of energy — the temperature of the rod will equilibrate to the temperature of its environment.

From Salon • Aug. 12, 2023

When this happens, water moves to equilibrate, moving from the system or compartment with a higher water potential to the system or compartment with a lower water potential.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

“Whenever there is a new recommendation, there are the early adopters who are extremely eager to want to get that booster right now,” she said, adding that “supply and demand will equilibrate in short order.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 4, 2021

The storm could equilibrate and continue sticking around, or it could dissipate.

From National Geographic • Feb. 21, 2018

A Rule to equilibrate Solids in the water.

From Discourse on Floating Bodies by Galilei, Galileo