ballast
/ˈbæləst/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbæləst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈba-ləst/ (ame, mw)
ballast — noun
1. Heavy material like sand, stone, or water that is placed at the bottom of a ship
Heavy material like sand, stone, or water that is placed at the bottom of a ship or a hot-air balloon to keep it steady and balanced. The term also refers to the layer of small crushed stones that forms the base of a railway track or road.
Hiroshi watched the crew load ballast onto the cargo vessel before its Atlantic crossing.
load ballast
Workers spread crushed stone ballast evenly along the new railway tracks.
spread crushed stone ballast
Fatima checked the ballast level in the hot-air balloon basket before takeoff.
Without enough ballast, the ship would tip dangerously in strong winds.
The captain ordered the crew to pump seawater into the ballast tanks for stability.
- stabilizer
a device or substance that keeps something steady, usually more technical in tone
- counterweight
a weight used to balance another weight, often in machinery rather than vessels
- buoy
something that keeps afloat rather than weighing down
用法筆記
This sense is always uncountable. When referring to the stones under railway tracks, British English often uses the uncountable form: 'the railway ballast'.
常見錯誤
2. Something that provides emotional or mental steadiness, helping a person or grou
Something that provides emotional or mental steadiness, helping a person or group remain calm and balanced during difficult or uncertain times.
The Watanabe family found ballast in their shared traditions during the crisis.
found ballast in
Folami's calm voice served as ballast for the team when the deadline moved up.
served as ballast
Sanjay described his daily meditation practice as the ballast that kept his thoughts steady.
For Ayanda, close friendships provided the ballast she needed during her mother's illness.
- anchor
something that keeps you grounded and secure, more relational in tone
- mainstay
a person or thing that provides the main support, slightly stronger in meaning
- foundation
the base on which something is built, less emotional in register
- disruption
something that causes instability or confusion
用法筆記
Frequently used in figurative or literary contexts. Often paired with verbs like 'provide', 'serve as', 'offer', or 'find'.
常見錯誤
3. A small device in a fluorescent lamp, LED light, or other electric light fixture
A small device in a fluorescent lamp, LED light, or other electric light fixture that controls the flow of electrical current to start the light and keep it working properly.
Priya replaced the faulty ballast in the fluorescent light above the kitchen counter.
replaced the faulty ballast
The classroom lights flickered constantly because the ballast was starting to fail.
ballast was starting to fail
Sakura asked the building manager to check the ballast in the hallway light fixture.
Daniel learned that modern LED lamps use an electronic ballast instead of a magnetic one.
- starter
a smaller component that helps start a fluorescent tube, not the same as the full ballast unit
- control gear
a technical term covering all current-regulating devices in lighting
用法筆記
Common in technical and maintenance contexts. In everyday speech, 'light starter' or simply 'the light part' are sometimes used instead.
常見錯誤
ballast — verb
- ballastpresent simple I / you / we / they
- ballasts3rd person singular
- ballasting-ing form
- ballastedpast simple
1. To put ballast into a ship, submarine, balloon, or floating structure to give it
To put ballast into a ship, submarine, balloon, or floating structure to give it stability and prevent it from tipping over.
The crew ballasted the cargo ship with seawater before leaving the harbor.
ballasted the cargo ship with seawater
Engineers ballasted the floating bridge platform with concrete blocks for extra weight.
The submarine crew ballasted the tanks carefully before beginning the descent.
Workers ballasted the empty oil tanker to keep it stable during the storm.
- stabilize
to make steady, a more general term not limited to ships
- weight down
to add weight to keep something in place, less technical
- lighten
to remove weight, making something less stable
用法筆記
Often used in passive voice in technical writing: 'the vessel was ballasted with...'.
2. To cover or fill the base of a railway track, road, or similar structure with a
To cover or fill the base of a railway track, road, or similar structure with a layer of crushed stone to make it strong and stable.
The construction crew ballasted the new railway line with crushed granite before laying the rails.
ballasted the new railway line with crushed granite
Mateo's team ballasted the road bed the day before the paving crew arrived.
The company ballasted the entire ten-kilometer stretch of track in under a week.
Before laying the wooden sleepers, the workers ballasted the ground evenly across the route.
用法筆記
This is a technical term used mainly in civil engineering and construction contexts. In everyday speech, 'laid gravel' or 'added a stone base' are more common.