What is "ballast"

Ballast \Bal"last\ (b[a^]l"last), n. [D. ballast; akin to Dan. baglast, ballast, OSw. barlast, Sw. ballast. The first part is perh. the same word as E. bare, adj.; the second is last a burden, and hence the meaning a bare, or mere, load. See Bare, a., and Last load.]

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.

   It [piety] is the right ballast of prosperity.
   --Barrow.

   Ballast engine, a steam engine used in excavating and for digging and raising stones and gravel for ballast.

   Ship in ballast, a ship carrying only ballast.

Ballast \Bal"last\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ballasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ballasting.]

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.

   'T is charity must ballast the heart.
   --Hammond.

"heavy material used to steady a ship," 1520s, from Middle English bar "bare" (see bare; in this case "mere") + last "a load, burden," or borrowed from identical terms in North Sea Germanic and Scandinavian (compare Old Danish barlast, 14c.). "Mere" because not carried for commercial purposes. Dutch balg-last "ballast," literally "belly-load," is a folk-etymology corruption.

n. 1 (context nautical English) heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship (or in the gondola of a balloon), to provide stability. 2 (context figuratively English) Anything that steady emotion or the mind. 3 coarse gravel or similar material laid to form a bed for roads or railroads, or in making concrete. 4 (context construction English) 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. 5 (context countable electronics English) device used for stabilizing current in an electric circuit (e.g.in a tube lamp supply circuit) 6 (context figurative English) That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness, steadiness, and security. vb. 1 To stabilize or load a ship with ballast. 2 To lay ballast on the bed of a railroad track.

v. make steady with a ballast

1. n. any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship

2. coarse gravel laid to form a bed for streets and railroads

3. an attribute that tends to give stability in character and morals; something that steadies the mind or feelings

4. a resistor inserted into a circuit to compensate for changes (as those arising from temperature fluctuations) [syn: ballast resistor, barretter]

5. an electrical device for starting and regulating fluorescent and discharge lamps [syn: light ballast]

Ballast is any material used to provide stability to a vehicle or structure. It may also refer to:

Ballast is a 2008 film directed by Lance Hammer. It competed in the Dramatic category at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the awards for Best Director and Best Cinematography. The film received six nominations in the 2009 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Ballast is a Canadian website about current events and culture. The site was founded in 2012 by Paul Hiebert and Jonathan Hall. Ballast contributors include writers for The Globe and Mail, The Awl, The Walrus, The CBC, Maclean's, The New York Times, and others. The site is considered to be the first Canadian site of its kind, modelling itself after American websites such as The Awl, Gawker, and The Dish.

Ballast is material that is used to provide stability to a vehicle or structure. Ballast, other than cargo, may be placed in a vehicle, often a ship or the gondola of a balloon or airship, to provide stability. A compartment within a boat, ship, submarine, or other floating structure that holds water is called a ballast tank. Water should move in and out from the ballast tank to balance the ship. In a vessel that travels on the water, the ballast will remain below the water level, to counteract the effects of weight above the water level. The ballast may be redistributed in the vessel or disposed of altogether to change its effects on the movement of the vessel.