Definition of "ballast" in English

noun

1. (nautical) Heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship (or in the gondola of a balloon), to provide stability.

2. (figurative) Anything that steadies emotion or the mind.

3. Coarse gravel or similar material laid to form a bed for roads or railroads, or in making concrete; track ballast.

4. (construction) 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. (countable, electricity, electronics) device used for stabilizing current in an electric circuit (e.g. in a tube lamp supply circuit)

6. (figurative) That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness, steadiness, and security.

verb

1. (transitive) To stabilize or load a ship with ballast.

2. (transitive) To lay ballast on the bed of a railroad track.

3. (transitive) To weigh down with a ballast.