ballast
Heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship, to provide stabilityHeavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship (or in the gondola of a balloon), to provide stability.
» Invasive species can be introduced to an area by ship ballast water, accidental release, and most often, by people.
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By meaning 1
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Examples
2 sentencesInvasive species can be introduced to an area by ship ballast water, accidental release, and most often, by people.
Scientists say the invasive species arrived in the Mediterranean from Asia in the ballast of cargo ships, creating an “environmental nightmare.”
Meaning
7 senses(uncountable, usually)Heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship (or in the gondola of a balloon), to provide stability.
Ballast
балла́стballást
бала́стbalást
any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship
(uncountable, usually)Coarse gravel or similar material laid to form a bed for roads or railroads, or in making concrete; track ballast.
Bettung, Schotter
бала́стbalást
coarse gravel laid to form a bed for streets and railroads
(countable, usually)Device used for stabilizing current in an electric circuit (e.g. in a tube lamp supply circuit)
More meanings 4
(figuratively, uncountable, usually)Anything that steadies emotion or the mind.
(uncountable, usually)A material, such as aggregate or precast concrete pavers, which employs its mass and the force of gravity to hold single-ply roof membranes in place.
A material, such as aggregate or precast concrete pavers, which employs its mass and the force of gravity to hold single-ply roof membranes in place.
(uncountable, usually)Loose stone or big gravel used to hold rails and tracks in place.
(figuratively, uncountable, usually)That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness, steadiness, and security.
Origin
From Middle English bar (“bare”) + last (“load”).From Middle English bar (“bare”) + last (“load”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: ballastsSynonyms
3 synonyms- a resistor inserted into a circuit to compensate for changes (as those arising from temperature fluctuations):ballast resistorbarretter
- an electrical device for starting and regulating fluorescent and discharge lamps:light ballast
Word family
15 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.