poise

UK: /ˈpɔɪz/ US: /pɔɪz/ ,(poiz; Physics pwäz)

Inflections of 'poise' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

poises

v 3rd person singular

poising

v pres p

poised

v past

poised

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

poise¹ /pɔɪz/   n., v., poised, pois•ing. 
n. [uncountable]

1. a dignified, calm manner of carrying oneself;
   self-possession:
   She showed great poise in giving her speech.
2. steadiness;
   stability:
   intellectual poise.
3. the way one holds oneself physically or the way one moves:
   the dancer's poise.

v. [~ + object]

4. to hold (something so that it is) supported, as in position for using, etc.:
   The hunter poised the spear.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

poise¹  (poiz), n., v., poised, pois•ing. 
n. 

1. a state of balance or equilibrium, as from equality or equal distribution of weight;
   equipoise.
2. a dignified, self-confident manner or bearing;
   composure;
   self-possession:
   to show poise in company.
3. steadiness;
   stability:
   intellectual poise.
4. suspense or wavering, as between rest and motion or two phases of motion:
   the poise of the tides.
5. the way of being poised, held, or carried.
6. the state or position of hovering:
   the poise of a bird in the air.

v.t. 

7. to adjust, hold, or carry in equilibrium;
   balance evenly.
8. to hold supported or raised, as in position for casting, using, etc.:
   to poise a spear.
9. to hold or carry in a particular manner:
   She walked, carefully poising a water jug on her head.
10. [Obs.] to weigh.

v.i. 

11. to rest in equilibrium;
    be balanced.
12. to hover, as a bird in the air.

• Latin pēnsāre, frequentative of pendere
• Old French poiser, variant, based on tonic stem, of peser
• Late Latin pēnsum, noun, nominal use of neuter past participle of Latin pendere to weigh; (verb, verbal) Middle English poisen to weigh
• Old French (French poids)
• (noun, nominal) Middle English pois(e) weight 1350–1400

Synonyms

• 2. self-assurance; polish, grace, refinement.

Antonyms

• 1, 3. instability.

poise²  (pwäz), n. [Physics.]

1. Physics a centimeter-gram-second unit of viscosity, equal to the viscosity of a fluid in which a stress of one dyne per square centimeter is required to maintain a difference of velocity of one centimeter per second between two parallel planes in the fluid that lie in the direction of flow and are separated by a distance of one centimeter. Symbol: P

• French; namedafter Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille (1799–1869), French physician
• 1910–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

poise / pɔɪz/ noun

1. composure or dignity of manner
2. physical balance or assurance in movement or bearing
3. the state of being balanced or stable; equilibrium; stability
4. the position of hovering

verb

1. to be or cause to be balanced or suspended
2. (transitive) to hold, as in readiness: to poise a lance
3. (transitive)
   a rare word for weigh1

Etymology: 16th Century: from Old French pois weight, from Latin pēnsum, from pendere to weigh

poise / pwɑːz pɔɪz/ noun

1. the cgs unit of viscosity; the viscosity of a fluid in which a tangential force of 1 dyne per square centimetre maintains a difference in velocity of 1 centimetre per second between two parallel planes 1 centimetre apart. It is equivalent to 0.1 newton second per square metre
   Symbol: P

Etymology: 20th Century: named after Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille (1799–1869), French physician