counterweight
counterweight — 名詞
- counterweightsingular
- counterweightsplural
1. an object that is heavy enough to balance another object on the opposite side of
配重；平衡重
用於平衡另一側重量的重物
an object that is heavy enough to balance another object on the opposite side of a mechanical system such as a crane, elevator, or winch, preventing the system from tipping or falling
The tower crane's concrete counterweight kept it steady as Tariq lifted heavy steel beams.
塔吊的混凝土配重讓 Tariq 吊起重型鋼樑時始終保持穩定。
concrete counterweight — shows material + location
Faisal watched the elevator counterweight slide down as the empty car rose past him.
Faisal 看著電梯的配重向下滑，而空車廂則從他身邊往上升。
elevator counterweight — common technical collocation
Maeve used a stone-filled bag as a counterweight to keep the kite from dipping.
Maeve 用一個裝滿石頭的袋子作為平衡重，防止風箏往下栽。
Luca checked the brass counterweight inside the grandfather clock before adjusting the pendulum.
Luca 檢查了老時鐘內部的黃銅配重，然後微調了鐘擺。
The stage crew added a counterweight to stop the lighting boom from tilting forward.
舞台工作人員加了配重，防止燈光吊臂向前傾斜。
- counterbalance
nearly identical in meaning; 'counterbalance' can also be a verb, which 'counterweight' cannot.
- balance weight
less common; mostly used in engineering contexts.
- ballast
used on ships or in vehicles; ballast is heavy material for stability rather than a designed balancing part.
文法句型
counterweight + for/to [something]
serve as a counterweight
用法筆記
This sense is strictly physical — the weight must be part of a mechanical system. The word also has a figurative use (e.g., 'a counterweight to political power') meaning something that limits the effect of something else, though this abstract sense is less common in everyday speech.