noun.
In pathology, an increase in functional power of some organ or part of an organ to make up for a defect in another organ or in another part of the same organ.
noun.
In psychophysics, the neutralization of a sensation by a stimulus process of a complementary or antagonistic kind.
noun.
In vegetable teratol., the occurrence of opposite abnormal conditions in different parts of the same plant, as an atrophied condition of one part associated with a hypertrophied condition of another.
noun.
The act of compensating; counterbalance: as, nature is based on a system of compensations.
noun.
That which is given or received as an equivalent, as for services, debt, want, loss, or suffering; indemnity; recompense; amends; requital.
noun.
That which supplies the place of something else, or makes good a deficiency, or makes amends: as, the speed of the hare is a compensation for its want of any weapon of defense.
noun.
In mech., means of creating a balance of forces; counteraction of opposing tendencies; adjustment for equilibrium.
noun.
In the civil law, the extinguishment of a debt by a counter-claim which the debtor has against his creditor, thus effecting the simultaneous extinguishment of two obligations, or of one and part of another.