Ballast
01
压载物, 稳定配重
a heavy substance placed in a ship's hull or an airship's tanks to lower its center of gravity and counteract unwanted tilting, rolling, or drifting
例子
Submarines flood their ballast tanks to dive and pump them out to resurface safely.
潜水艇淹没其压载水舱以潜水，并泵出它们以安全上浮。
To climb above the mountain pass, the dirigible pilot jettisoned ballast sandbags.
为了爬升到山口上方，飞艇飞行员丢弃了压舱物沙袋。
02
an electrical device used to start and regulate the current in fluorescent or discharge lamps
例子
The electrician replaced the faulty ballast in the ceiling light.
A new electronic ballast made the lamp more energy-efficient.
03
something that provides mental, emotional, or moral stability
例子
Her calm judgment served as ballast during the crisis.
Friendship can be a ballast against the stresses of modern life.
04
crushed stone laid to form a stable foundation for roads or railway tracks
例子
Workers spread fresh ballast beneath the railway ties.
The track ballast helps drain water and keep rails properly aligned.
to ballast
01
to make something stable or balanced by adding or using ballast, which is a heavy material used to provide stability
例子
The crew ballasted the ship to prevent it from tilting in rough seas.
Engineers ballast the bridge supports to keep them steady during construction.
