spring balance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “spring balance” mean?
A weighing device that measures weight by the extension or compression of a spring, with the force indicated on a graduated scale.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A weighing device that measures weight by the extension or compression of a spring, with the force indicated on a graduated scale.
A simple, portable mechanical scale, typically consisting of a spring enclosed in a casing, a hook to attach the object, and a pointer that moves along a scale. It operates on Hooke's law.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard in both varieties, but 'spring scale' is a more common synonym in American English technical contexts.
Connotations
Neutral technical instrument in both; may connote simplicity, portability, or lower precision compared to electronic scales.
Frequency
Low-frequency technical term in both. 'Spring scale' has higher frequency in American English corpus data.
Grammar
How to Use “spring balance” in a Sentence
[Subject] measured the weight with a spring balance.[Object] was weighed on a spring balance.The spring balance indicated [Measurement].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spring balance” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as an adjective.
American English
- Not applicable as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; potentially in specific industries like produce markets or small-scale manufacturing for quick weighing.
Academic
Used in physics education to demonstrate Hooke's law and the relationship between force and extension.
Everyday
Uncommon; might be found in gardening or fishing for weighing catch/bait, or in household luggage scales.
Technical
Primary context. Used in engineering, physics labs, and fields requiring simple force measurement.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spring balance”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spring balance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spring balance”
- Incorrect: 'spring balancer' (a different tool for counterbalancing weight).
- Incorrect: using it as a verb, e.g., 'I will spring balance the parcel.'
- Mispronunciation: stressing 'balance' on the second syllable (ba-LANCE) instead of the first (BA-lance).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Many modern kitchen scales are electronic. A traditional mechanical kitchen scale might be a spring balance, but the term 'spring balance' is more technical and specific to the mechanism.
No. A spring balance measures force (weight). On Earth, we often interpret this as mass, but its reading would change on the Moon, where gravity is different.
Its main advantages are portability, simplicity, and that it doesn't require separate weights. It is quick and easy to use for approximate measurements.
The most common alternative is 'spring scale'. In educational contexts, when calibrated in Newtons, it is often called a 'Newton meter' or 'force meter'.
A weighing device that measures weight by the extension or compression of a spring, with the force indicated on a graduated scale.
Spring balance is usually technical / scientific in register.
Spring balance: in British English it is pronounced /sprɪŋ ˈbaləns/, and in American English it is pronounced /sprɪŋ ˈbæləns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable for this technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SPRING that BALANCES an object's weight by stretching. The more it stretches (spring), the heavier the object (balance).
Conceptual Metaphor
MEASUREMENT IS MOVEMENT (the pointer's movement along the scale represents quantity). FORCE IS A STRETCHER (the spring's extension embodies the force applied).
Practice
Quiz
What fundamental physical law does a spring balance primarily demonstrate?