| 释义 |
imbalance|ɪmˈbæləns|
[f. im-2 + balance n.]
An unbalanced condition; a lack of proper proportion or relation between corresponding things.
Orig. a technical term in Ophthalmology but now used generally in many subjects and contexts.
1898Ophthalmic Rec. VII. 87 Some advocates of operative interference for ocular imbalance in the functional neuroses fail to recognize the fact that heterophoria, or even squint, may be only a symptom. 1930G. Hamilton Med. Social Terminol. 25 Intellectual imbalance, the state of an individual with special abilities or disabilities, markedly competent in some respects and deficient in others, but not well integrated or compensated. 1934Scrutiny III. iii. 230 It is a matter of common observation that a high degree of artistic discrimination can go along with an extreme paucity or imbalance of general emotional life. 1937Nature 16 Jan. 90/2 The operating mechanism [of the human constitution] is the autonomic nervous system, which, especially in sensitive subjects is liable to..pass into imbalance or dysfunction, and eventually permanent disease. 1949S. Duke-Elder Text-bk. Ophthalm. IV. xlvi. 3964 Operative treatment is the alternative measure to correct a heterophoria, and is particularly applicable in essential imbalance when the cause is anatomical. 1949Janis & Fadner in H. D. Lasswell et al. Lang. Pol. ii. viii, This Coefficient of Imbalance is intended to be applicable to all types of communications..except those in which the communication is arbitrarily restricted to specified symbols. 1952N.Y. Times 6 May 28/2 The trade imbalance and the drain of gold and hard currency reserves have lessened. 1953Manch. Guardian Weekly 7 May 3/3 Which will prevent their own budgets from remaining in disastrous imbalance. 1954New Biol. XVI. 80 While the maintenance of an adult organism is achieved by the exact balance of synthetic and degradative processes, growth is realized by a degree of imbalance in which synthetic processes predominate. 1957Economist 7 Sept. 780/1 Increasing the existing imbalance between male and female employment. 1957English Studies XXXVIII. 97 A remarkable corrective to this imbalance appeared in the writings of Henry Sweet. 1957Listener 26 Dec. 1080/3 Shows clearly the imbalance created by an exodus of young persons (predominantly females) from the rural areas. 1961Lancet 22 July 211/1 Imbalance in the mental diet results in greed. 1962Ibid. 2 June 1167/2 Though the mammalian body has striking powers of recovery from the effects of long-maintained hormonal imbalance, there must be limits to the stresses which can safely be imposed. 1967Boston Sunday Globe 21 May H 3/1 The imbalance problem [proportion of black and of white people] could be solved in such a setup... The 20 or so schools in a park would be able to share many facilities and personnel. 1969Times 5 Aug. 9/5 The imbalance in the world's financial system has become grotesque. 1970New Society 5 Feb. 222/1 Imbalances between homes and people emerge. 1973Sci. Amer. Sept. 133/3 The marked increase in the average salary reflects both the imbalance of supply and demand for health workers and, more important, the highly desirable increased value placed on such workers. |