offset

Intermediatezipf 3.99

Pronunciation

/ˈɒfsɛt/(n: OFF-set)

Part of speech

verb / nounneutral

Chinese

抵消；补偿（用一个正面因素来平衡负面因素）

Definition

To counterbalance or compensate for something.

Word family

  • offsetting/ˈɒfsɛtɪŋ/(adj)抵消的

Collocations

  • offset costs
  • offset losses
  • offset emissions
  • carbon offset

Examples

  1. 1.The gains in exports offset the decline in domestic sales. (counterbalance)
  2. 2.Companies buy carbon offsets to compensate for their emissions. (noun: environmental)

Synonyms

  • counterbalance/ˌkaʊntəˈbæləns/— balance against, formal
  • neutralize/ˈnjuːtrəlaɪz/— make neutral, cancel out
  • compensate/ˈkɒmpənseɪt/— make up for

Etymology

off + set — to set one thing against another