counterweights
Masses offsetting loads
Counterweights are weights that balance or offset other weights, used in elevators, cranes, and drawbridges to reduce the force needed to lift heavy loads.
Figuratively, counterweights are forces or factors that balance opposing influences: The press serves as a counterweight to government power.
The verb means to balance with an opposing force.
Grooved wheel for rope
- leverPivoting bar for lifting
- craneLifter or wader
- elevatorVertical conveyance between floors
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
pendulum · trebuchet · drawbridge · sash window · flywheel · governor · fulcrum · cable
State of balance
- offsetCompensate by opposing force
- equipoiseEqual distribution of weight
- ballastShip stability material
- stabilizerThing ensuring steadiness
compensation · neutralization · leveling · calibration · adjustment · poise · symmetry · proportion
Secures ships to seabed
- ballastShip stability material
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- bracingRefreshingly keen or stimulating
- steadyingMaking less shaky
grounding · reinforcement · support · damping · stabilization · firmness · steadiness · mooring
pulley
Grooved wheel for rope
lift · pendulum · trebuchet · drawbridge · sash window · flywheel · governor · fulcrum · cable · winch
equilibrium
State of balance
- offsetCompensate by opposing force
- equipoiseEqual distribution of weight
- ballastShip stability material
stabilizer · compensation · neutralization · leveling · calibration · adjustment · poise · symmetry · proportion · equalization
anchor
Secures ships to seabed
- ballastShip stability material
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- bracingRefreshingly keen or stimulating
steadying · grounding · reinforcement · support · damping · stabilization · firmness · steadiness · mooring · keel
cable
Heavy-duty woven line
- tractionAdhesive friction enabling movement
- strainExcessive stretching force
- loadCarried weight or burden
force · pull · resistance · suspension · tautness · stress · pressure · spring · elastic · stretch
- stagecraftstage left, stage right, center stage, downstage, upstage
- Telescope Geartelescopes, reflectors, refractors, mounts, eyepieces
- iron castingscast iron, pig iron, engine blocks, manhole covers, drain covers
- ballastballast tanks, water ballast
- balance systemshomeostasis, dynamic balance, steady state, steady-state, feedback loops
- cargo handlingforklifts, pallets, crates, containers, loaders
counterweightscargo
Transported goods
payload · burden · load · dead weight · overburden
- counterweight systemMechanism using opposing loads