balance beam

noun

1

: a narrow wooden beam supported in a horizontal position approximately four feet above the floor and used for balancing feats in gymnastics

2

: an event in gymnastics competition in which the balance beam is used

Examples of balance beam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Such was the case at the 2019 World Championships, when American gymnast Kara Eaker’s balance beam D-score dropped four tenths after an inquiry. —Tess Demeyer, The Athletic, 13 Aug. 2024

Biles had a couple of small wobbles during her balance beam routine, but Andrade and Nemour had bigger ones, and the difficulty of Biles’s routine gave her some wiggle room. —Maggie Astor, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2024

Then, after a shot of Jacobs holding his son on a balance beam, the real magic happened. —Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2024

Biles recovered to post another respectable score on balance beam, and then came her last event, floor. —Alice Park / Paris, TIME, 1 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

balance beam

noun

: a narrow wooden beam supported in a horizontal position above the floor and used for balancing feats in gymnastics