offset

IBM's Outlook May Soothe Investors

IBM said fourth-quarter net rose 12%, as strength in its global services and software businesses offset continued weakness in its hardware division. The tech giant also raised 2008 earnings targets. soothe

Philips Posts Sharp Drop in Net

Philips Electronics reported a 75% drop in first-quarter net profit as growth in its health-care and lighting units was offset by lower television sales.

offset Hide phonetics
verb [T] offsetting, offset, offset
to balance one influence against an opposing influence, so that there is no great difference as a result:
The extra cost of travelling to work is offset by the lower price of houses here.
UK He keeps his petrol receipts because petrol is one of the expenses that he can offset against tax (= can show to the government as being a business cost, and so not pay tax).

━━ n. 差引（勘定）, 埋め合せ; 分派; 【植】（親木から出る短い）分枝; 【印】オフセット版［印刷］ （offset printing）; 【印】（インクの）裏うつり; 【コンピュータ】隔たり, オフセット; 【建】壁段.
━━ vt. 差引勘定する, …を償う; 【印】オフセット版［印刷］にする; 壁面に段をつける.
offset process　オフセット印刷.