1. Hold or carry in equilibrium
   "The waiter poised the tray on his fingertips";
   - balance
    
2. Cause to be balanced or suspended
   "The sculptor poised the mobile perfectly"
    
3. Be motionless, in suspension
   "The bird poised for a few moments before it attacked"
    
4. Prepare (oneself), often but not necessarily for something unpleasant or difficult
   "She poised herself before entering the interview room";
   - brace

1. Great coolness and composure under strain
   "keep your poise";
   - aplomb, assuredness, cool, sang-froid, sangfroid
    
2. A state of being balanced in a stable equilibrium
   "The gymnast's poise on the balance beam was impressive"
    
3. A cgs unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimetre; the viscosity of a fluid in which a force of one dyne per square centimetre maintains a velocity of 1 centimetre per second
   "The scientist measured the viscosity of the oil in poise"

Derived forms: poises, poising, poised

Type of: bear, calm, calmness, carry, collectedness, composure, equanimity, equilibrium, fix, gear up, hold, hover, lay, place, pose, position, prepare, put, ready, set, set up, unflappability, unit of viscosity

Encyclopedia: Poise