offset

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal

n. something that acts as a balance to something else.

n. a consideration or amount that diminishes or balances the effect of a contrary one.

“The high cost of the house was a fair offset to its perfect location.”

“The tax credits provided a necessary offset to the increased operational costs incurred during the first phase of the expansion.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Technology Technical

n. a common way of printing where ink is moved from a plate to a rubber surface before touching the paper.

n. a widely used printing technique in which the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to the printing surface.

“The magazine is produced using offset printing to keep the colours sharp.”

“The publisher opted for offset lithography to ensure high-quality image reproduction across the entire print run of the art book.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical

n. the distance between one thing and another, or how far something is out of line.

n. the amount or distance by which something is out of alignment or displaced from a base point.

“The programmer had to calculate the offset to find the correct data in the memory.”

“A slight offset in the structural beams required the engineers to recalibrate the entire support system before proceeding with the roof installation.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical

n. a small new plant that grows off the side of a main plant.

n. a lateral shoot or bulb that develops from the main stem of a plant and can be used for propagation.

“You can grow a new plant by carefully removing an offset from the mother cactus.”

“The gardener propagated the rare succulent by separating the offsets that had formed around the base of the primary rosette.”