BALANCER

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Either of the rudimentary hind wings of dipterous insects; used for maintaining equilibrium during flight

Synonyms:

balancer; halter; haltere

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

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

wing (a movable organ for flying (one of a pair))

Holonyms ("balancer" is a part of...):

dipteran; dipteron; dipterous insect; two-winged insects (insects having usually a single pair of functional wings (anterior pair) with the posterior pair reduced to small knobbed structures and mouth parts adapted for sucking or lapping or piercing)

Derivation:

balance (hold or carry in equilibrium)

balance (be in equilibrium)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An acrobat who balances himself in difficult positions