equilibrium[ē′kwi lib′rē əm; also ek′wi-]
- Equilibrium is defined as a state of balance or a stable situation where opposing forces cancel each other out and where no changes are occurring.
- An example of equilibrium is in economics when supply and demand are equal.
- An example of equilibrium is when you are calm and steady.
- An example of equilibrium is when hot air and cold air are entering the room at the same time so that the overall temperature of the room does not change at all.
nounpl. equilibriums or equilibria
- a state of balance or equality between opposing forces
- a state of balance or adjustment of conflicting desires, interests, etc.
- the ability of the animal body to keep itself properly oriented or positioned; bodily stability or balance
- mental or emotional stability or balance; poise
- the condition in a reversible chemical reaction in which the products of the reaction are consumed by the reverse reaction at the same rate as they are formed, and there is no net change in the concentrations of the products or the reactants
- the stage of a radioactive material at which the rate of disintegration and the rate of formation are equal for each intermediate product in the radioactive decay series
Origin of equilibriumClassical Latin aequilibrium ; from aequilibris, evenly balanced ; from aequus (see equal) + libra, a balance
nounpl. e·qui·lib·ri·ums or e·qui·lib·ri·a
- A condition in which all acting influences are canceled by others, resulting in a stable, balanced, or unchanging system.
- Mental or emotional balance.
- Physics The state of a body or physical system at rest or in unaccelerated motion in which the resultant of all forces acting on it is zero and the sum of all torques about any axis is zero.
- Chemistry a. The state of a chemical reaction in which its forward and reverse reactions occur at equal rates so that the concentration of the reactants and products does not change with time.b. The state of a system in which more than one phase exists and exchange between phases occurs at equal rates so that there is no net change in the composition of the system.
Origin of equilibriumLatin aequilībrium : aequi-, equi- + lībra, balance.
(plural equilibriums or equilibria)
- The condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced, resulting in no net change.
- (physics) The state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero.
- (chemistry) The state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same.
- Mental balance.
From Latin æquilībrium, from æquus (“equal”) + lībra (“balance”).