Ballast
WordNet
noun
(1) Any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship
(2) An electrical device for starting and regulating fluorescent and discharge lamps
(3) A resistor inserted into a circuit to compensate for changes (as those arising from temperature fluctuations)
(4) An attribute that tends to give stability in character and morals; something that steadies the mind or feelings
(5) Coarse gravel laid to form a bed for streets and railroads
verb
(6) Make steady with a ballast
WiktionaryText
English
Noun
- Heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship (or in the gondola of a balloon), to provide stability.
- Anything that steadies emotion or the mind.
- Coarse gravel or similar material laid to form a bed for roads or railroads.
- 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.
- device used for stabilizing current in an electric circuit (e.g.in a tube lamp supply circuit)