vaakA

Vaaka is a Finnish noun with multiple related meanings. Primarily, it refers to a weighing instrument or balance used to determine mass. This encompasses household scales, kitchen scales, laboratory balances, and industrial weighing systems, which may be mechanical or electronic. A vaaka typically consists of a platform and a mechanism that indicates weight, and it is used in everyday life, commerce, and science to compare an object's mass with a standard and to calibrate measurement devices.

Vaaka is also the Finnish name for the zodiac sign Libra. In Western astrology, Vaaka is associated with balance, harmony, and social cooperation. The Sun is said to be in Vaaka roughly from late September to late October. The symbol of Vaaka is the scales, reflecting its traditional ties to justice and equilibrium. As an astrological sign, Vaaka is generally categorized as an air sign and is linked to traits such as diplomacy and a preference for partnership.