ba
llast
Plural
ballasts
1
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
- 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.
- The passenger ferry adjusted its ballast water before docking to maintain an even keel.
- Modern racing yachts pump water ballast between tanks to adapt quickly to changing wind conditions.
- Naval architects calculated the optimal ballast distribution for maximum stability in rough seas.
2
an electrical device used to start and regulate the current in fluorescent or discharge lamps
- The electrician replaced the faulty ballast in the ceiling light.
- A new electronic ballast made the lamp more energy-efficient.
- Without a working ballast, the fluorescent tube kept flickering.
- The ballast controls the voltage to prevent the bulb from burning out.
- Technicians installed dimmable ballasts to adjust light intensity.
Synonyms:
3
something that provides mental, emotional, or moral stability
- Her calm judgment served as ballast during the crisis.
- Friendship can be a ballast against the stresses of modern life.
- His sense of duty was the moral ballast of his leadership.
- The teacher's patience acted as a ballast for the unruly class.
- Reading philosophy gave him ballast in times of uncertainty.
4
crushed stone laid to form a stable foundation for roads or railway tracks
- Workers spread fresh ballast beneath the railway ties.
- The track ballast helps drain water and keep rails properly aligned.
- Construction crews used granite ballast for the new highway bed.
- Regular maintenance includes cleaning and replacing worn ballast.
- The train's weight compresses the ballast, improving track stability.