POISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does poise mean? 

• POISE (noun)
  The noun POISE has 3 senses:

1. a cgs unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter; the viscosity of a fluid in which a force of one dyne per square centimeter maintains a velocity of 1 centimeter per second

2. a state of being balanced in a stable equilibrium

3. great coolness and composure under strain

  Familiarity information: POISE used as a noun is uncommon.

• POISE (verb)
  The verb POISE has 4 senses:

1. be motionless, in suspension

2. prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult

3. cause to be balanced or suspended

4. hold or carry in equilibrium

  Familiarity information: POISE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• POISE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A cgs unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter; the viscosity of a fluid in which a force of one dyne per square centimeter maintains a velocity of 1 centimeter per second

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Hypernyms ("poise" is a kind of...):

unit of viscosity (a unit of measurement for viscosity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A state of being balanced in a stable equilibrium

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("poise" is a kind of...):

equilibrium (a stable situation in which forces cancel one another)

Derivation:

poise (hold or carry in equilibrium)

poise (cause to be balanced or suspended)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Great coolness and composure under strain

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

aplomb; assuredness; cool; poise; sang-froid

Context example:

keep your cool

Hypernyms ("poise" is a kind of...):

calm; calmness; composure; equanimity (steadiness of mind under stress)

Derivation:

poise (prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult)

• POISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they poise    ... he / she / it poises   
Past simple: poised   
Past participle: poised   
-ing form: poising   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be motionless, in suspension

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

The bird poised for a few moments before it attacked

Hypernyms (to "poise" is one way to...):

hover (hang in the air; fly or be suspended above)

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

brace; poise

Hypernyms (to "poise" is one way to...):

fix; gear up; prepare; ready; set; set up (make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "poise"):

nerve; steel (get ready for something difficult or unpleasant)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

poise (great coolness and composure under strain)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause to be balanced or suspended

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "poise" is one way to...):

lay; place; pose; position; put; set (put into a certain place or abstract location)

Cause:

balance; poise (hold or carry in equilibrium)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

poise (a state of being balanced in a stable equilibrium)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Hold or carry in equilibrium

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

balance; poise

Hypernyms (to "poise" is one way to...):

bear; carry; hold (support or hold in a certain manner)

Verb group:

balance; equilibrate; equilibrise; equilibrize (bring into balance or equilibrium)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "poise"):

juggle (hold with difficulty and balance insecurely)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

poise (a state of being balanced in a stable equilibrium)

 Context examples 

The poise of the head strikes one at once as indicative of thought and power; the head is noble, well-sized, broad, and large behind the ears.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

This tells me that in addition to the likelihood that you’ll earn an exciting promotion, you are also poised to receive a substantial increase in salary.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

So the cells are poised to recover even while they're dying.

(Cells Back from Brink of Death, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

His was the perfect poise, the supreme confidence in self, which nothing could shake; and he was no more timid of a woman than he was of storm and battle.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

His newborn cunning gave him poise and control.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

He had learned control and poise, and he knew the law.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

In reality, he never rested, and a weaker body or a less firmly poised brain would have been prostrated in a general break-down.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Their heads were thrown back, their lips compressed, their blood-stained swords poised over their right shoulders, and their left feet thrown out.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As a result, kelp forests face a potential shortage of nitrogen just as long summer days are poised to fuel algal growth, said lead author Joey Peters.

(In search of an undersea kelp forest's missing nitrogen, National Science Foundation)

He gave the cane another poise, and another switch; and having finished his preparation of it, laid it down beside him, with an impressive look, and took up his book.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)