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Ballast
01
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
Examples
Submarines flood their ballast tanks to dive and pump them out to resurface safely.
To climb above the mountain pass, the dirigible pilot jettisoned ballast sandbags.
02
an electrical device used to start and regulate the current in fluorescent or discharge lamps
Examples
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
Examples
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
Examples
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
Examples
The crew ballasted the ship to prevent it from tilting in rough seas.
Engineers ballast the bridge supports to keep them steady during construction.
