Ballast
Definition of Ballast
Bal´last Pronunciation: băl´last | n. | 1. | (Naut.) Any heavy substance, as stone, iron, etc., put into the hold to sink a vessel in the water to such a depth as to prevent capsizing. | | 2. | Any heavy matter put into the car of a balloon to give it steadiness. | | 3. | Gravel, broken stone, etc., laid in the bed of a railroad to make it firm and solid. | | 4. | The larger solids, as broken stone or gravel, used in making concrete. | | 5. | Fig.: That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness, steadiness, and security. | | v. t. | 1. | To steady, as a vessel, by putting heavy substances in the hold. | | 2. | To fill in, as the bed of a railroad, with gravel, stone, etc., in order to make it firm and solid. | | 3. | To keep steady; to steady, morally. |
Related Words
balance, break bulk, break out ballast, clear for action, clear the decks, consideration, counterbalance, counterpoise, counterweight, equipoise, equivalent, firm, firm up, freeze, give-and-take, hold, immobilize, keep, lead, makeweight, nail down, offset, pin down, poise, quid pro quo, retain, sandbag, setoff, shift ballast, shoot ballast, something of value, stabilitate, stabilize, steady, stick, tit for tat, transfix, trim, trim ship, trim up, weigh down, weight, weight down, wing out ballast
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Ball and socket joint
Ball bearings
Ball cartridge
Ball cock
Ball gudgeon
Ball lever
Ball lightning
Ball of the eye
Ball valve
Ball vein
Ball-flower
ball-hawking
ball-shaped
Ballad
Ballad monger
Ballade
Ballader
Balladry
Ballahoo
Ballarag
-Ballast-
Ballast engine
Ballastage
Ballasting
Ballatry
balled
ballerina
Ballet
ballet master
ballet mistress
ballet slipper
balletic
balletomane
Ballista
Ballister
Ballistic
ballistic missile
Ballistic pendulum
Ballistics
Ballistite
Ballium
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