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ballast
bal·last / ˈbaləst/ • n. 1. heavy material, such as gravel, sand, iron, or lead, placed low in a vessel to improve its stability. ∎ a substance of this type carried in an airship or on a hot-air balloon to stabilize it, and jettisoned when greater altitude is required. ∎ fig. something that gives stability or substance: the film is an entertaining comedy with some serious ideas thrown in for ballast. 2. gravel or coarse stone used to form the bed of a railroad track or road. ∎ a mixture of coarse and fine aggregate for making concrete. 3. a passive component used in an electric circuit to moderate changes in current. • v. [tr.] (usu. be ballasted) 1. give stability to (a ship) by putting a heavy substance in its bilge. 2. form (the bed of a railroad line or road) with gravel or coarse stone. |
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"ballast." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ballast." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ballast.html "ballast." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ballast.html |
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ballast
ballast, additional weight carried in a ship to give it stability and/or to provide a satisfactory trim. Nowadays this is done by pumping water in or out of trimming tanks, but in the past ballast was usually in the form of pigs of soft iron, known as kentledge, or stone or shingle was taken on board temporarily and stowed in the holds. Ballast tanks are the external or internal tanks fitted in submarines to control them when surfacing or diving. In ballast, the condition of a cargo vessel which has discharged its cargo and has taken ballast on board. Yachts carry their ballast externally, as a keel. Sailing vessels insufficiently ballasted were said to be crank.
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"ballast." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ballast." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-ballast.html "ballast." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-ballast.html |
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ballast
ballast n.
1. heavy material, such as gravel, sand, iron, or lead, placed low in a vessel to improve its stability. 2. a substance of this type carried in an airship or on a hot-air balloon to stabilize it, and jettisoned when greater altitude is required. v. (usually be ballasted) give stability to (a ship) by putting a heavy substance in its bilge: the vessel has been ballasted to give the necessary floating stability. in ballast (of a ship) laden only with ballast. |
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"ballast." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ballast." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-ballast.html "ballast." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-ballast.html |
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ballast
ballast XVI. prob. f. LG., of uncert. orig. (perh. f. (i) bar BARE, mere or (ii) barm bosom, hull (of a ship) + last burden).
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T. F. HOAD. "ballast." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "ballast." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ballast.html T. F. HOAD. "ballast." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ballast.html |
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ballast
ballast
•unbiased • breakfast • August
•locust, unfocused
•ballast, Sallust
•dynast • unembarrassed • provost
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Cite this article
"ballast." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ballast." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ballast.html "ballast." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ballast.html |
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