ballast
[ bal-uhst ]
/ ˈbæl əst /
noun
verb (used with object)
to furnish with ballast: to ballast a ship.
to give steadiness to; keep steady: parental responsibilities that ballast a person.
QUIZZES
LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!
Are you learning Spanish? Or do you just have an interest in foreign languages? Either way, this quiz on Spanish words for animals is for you.
Question 1 of 13
How do you say “cat” 🐈 in Spanish?
Idioms for ballast
in ballast, Nautical. carrying only ballast; carrying no cargo.
Origin of ballast
OTHER WORDS FROM ballast
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
“Depression” vs. “Anxiety”: Which Do I Have (Or Is It Both)?
“Affect” vs. “Effect”: Use The Correct Word Every Time
“Have” vs. “Has”: When To Use Each One
What Is An Em Dash And How Do You Use It?
What Is The Difference Between “It’s” And “Its”?
“Frosting” vs. “Icing”: Are They Synonyms (Or Just Taste Like They Are)?
British Dictionary definitions for ballast
ballast
/ (ˈbæləst) /
noun
any dense heavy material, such as lead or iron pigs, used to stabilize a vessel, esp one that is not carrying cargo
crushed rock, broken stone, etc, used for the foundation of a road or railway track
coarse aggregate of sandy gravel, used in making concrete
anything that provides stability or weight
electronics a device for maintaining the current in a circuit
verb (tr)
to give stability or weight to
Word Origin for ballast
C16: probably from Low German; related to Old Danish, Old Swedish barlast, literally: bare load (without commercial value), from bar bare, mere + last load, burden
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012