equilibrar

Equilibrar is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese that means to bring into balance or to balance. It can refer to physical stability, as when keeping a person or object steady, or to more abstract balancing of resources, opinions, or forces.

Etymology: the word derives from Latin aequilibrāre, formed from aequus “equal” and libra “balance.” Through the Romance languages it became equilibrar in Portuguese and Spanish, acquiring a general sense of achieving balance.

Spanish usage: in Spanish, equilibrar is a regular -ar verb. Present indicative forms include yo equilibro, tú equilibras, él equilibra, nosotros equilibramos, vosotros equilibráis, ellos equilibran. The corresponding noun is equilibrio; the reflexive form equilibrarse means to balance oneself or to achieve balance.

Portuguese usage: in Portuguese, equilibrar is also regular. Present tense forms include eu equilibro, você equilibra, ele equilibra, nós equilibramos, vocês equilibram. The noun is equilíbrio. The reflexive form equilibrar-se is used to express becoming balanced, though other constructions can be employed to emphasize balance in daily life.

Domains and applications: in science, equilibrar refers to reaching an equilibrium state in physics, chemistry, or thermodynamics. In economics, to equilibrar markets means aligning supply and demand. In everyday language, it can describe balancing time, resources, or emotions, or moderating extremes to maintain stability.