Ballast

[Bal·last]

A ballast is any heavy material that helps to make a ship or plane stable, including metaphorical ships like your mood. If you hate school, the thought of a weekend coming might be a ballast for your mood.

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Any heavy substance, as stone, iron, etc., put into the hold to sink a vessel in the water to such a depth as to prevent capsizing.

Noun
any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship

Noun
an electrical device for starting and regulating fluorescent and discharge lamps

Noun
a resistor inserted into a circuit to compensate for changes (as those arising from temperature fluctuations)

Noun
an attribute that tends to give stability in character and morals; something that steadies the mind or feelings

Noun
coarse gravel laid to form a bed for streets and railroads

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Verb
make steady with a ballast

a.
Any heavy substance, as stone, iron, etc., put into the hold to sink a vessel in the water to such a depth as to prevent capsizing.

a.
Any heavy matter put into the car of a balloon to give it steadiness.

a.
Gravel, broken stone, etc., laid in the bed of a railroad to make it firm and solid.

a.
The larger solids, as broken stone or gravel, used in making concrete.

a.
Fig.: That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness, steadiness, and security.

v. t.
To steady, as a vessel, by putting heavy substances in the hold.

v. t.
To fill in, as the bed of a railroad, with gravel, stone, etc., in order to make it firm and solid.

v. t.
To keep steady; to steady, morally.

Ballast

Bal"last , n. [D. ballast; akin to Dan. baglast, ballast, OSw. barlast, Sw. ballast. The first part is perh. the same word as E. bare, adj.; the second is last a burden, and hence the meaning a bare, or mere, load. See Bare, a., and Last load.] 1. (Naut.) Any heavy substance, as stone, iron, etc., put into the hold to sink a vessel in the water to such a depth as to prevent capsizing. 2. Any heavy matter put into the car of a balloon to give it steadiness. 3. Gravel, broken stone, etc., laid in the bed of a railroad to make it firm and solid. 4. The larger solids, as broken stone or gravel, used in making concrete. 5. Fig.: That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness, steadiness, and security.

It [piety] is the right ballast of prosperity.

Ballast engine, a steam engine used in excavating and for digging and raising stones and gravel for ballast. -- Ship in ballast, a ship carring only ballast.

Ballast

Bal"last, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ballasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ballasting.] 1. To steady, as a vessel, by putting heavy substances in the hold. 2. To fill in, as the bed of a railroad, with gravel, stone, etc., in order to make it firm and solid. 3. To keep steady; to steady, morally.

'T is charity must ballast the heart.

Any heavy substance, as stone, iron, etc., put into the hold to sink a vessel in the water to such a depth as to prevent capsizing.

To steady, as a vessel, by putting heavy substances in the hold.

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Usage Examples

Misspelled Form

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