Library / English Dictionary

BALLAST

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("ballast" is a kind of...):

material; stuff (the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object)

Derivation:

ballast (make steady with a ballast)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An electrical device for starting and regulating fluorescent and discharge lamps

Synonyms:

ballast; light ballast

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("ballast" is a kind of...):

electrical device (a device that produces or is powered by electricity)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A resistor inserted into a circuit to compensate for changes (as those arising from temperature fluctuations)

Synonyms:

ballast; ballast resistor; barretter

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("ballast" is a kind of...):

resistance; resistor (an electrical device that resists the flow of electrical current)

Sense 4

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("ballast" is a kind of...):

attribute (an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of an entity)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Coarse gravel laid to form a bed for streets and railroads

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("ballast" is a kind of...):

crushed rock; gravel (rock fragments and pebbles)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make steady with a ballast

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "ballast" is one way to...):

brace; stabilise; stabilize; steady (support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

ballast (any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship)

Credits