what is the difinition for the word ballast?

Answer 1

Im not sure. But try checking the dictionary. Its much faster. www.dictionary.com

Answer 2

This is a heavy question. Ballast is most commonly referred to with ships. It's any heavy material, including sand, used to stabilize or level the ship. Other uses are with heavy equipment, farm tractors Graders, balloons and even racing machines. The heavy sand gravel used as a base in road construction is also called ballast as is a starting coil in an electrical motor. Best bet is to decide what type of ballast you're asking about, then look it up.

Answer 3

1 : a heavy substance placed in such a way as to improve stability and control (as of the draft of a ship or the buoyancy of a balloon or submarine)
2 : something that gives stability (as in character or conduct)
3 : gravel or broken stone laid in a railroad bed or used in making concrete
4 : a device used to provide the starting voltage or to stabilize the current in a circuit (as of a fluorescent lamp)
- in ballast of a ship : having only ballast for a load

Answer 4

Meaning of ballast? here it is:

ballast

bal·last [bálləst]
noun (plural bal·lasts)
1. stabilizing heavy weights: heavy material carried in the hold of a ship, especially one that has no cargo, in the keel of a sailing boat, or in the gondola of a balloon, to give the craft increased stability
2. something that gives bulk or stability: anything that serves no particular purpose except to give bulk or weight to something or that provides additional stability
3. foundation material: stones or gravel when used as a foundation for a road or railroad track
4. industry gravel used in making concrete: gravel used in making concrete and in earthworks
5. electrical engineering circuit limiting current flow: a circuit that limits the current flow in a fluorescent lamp


transitive verb (past and past participle bal·last·ed, present participle bal·last·ing, 3rd person present singular bal·lasts)
1. put ballast on something: to load ballast onto something
2. stabilize something: to give stability to something

jtm.

Answer 5

bal·last /ˈbæləst/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[bal-uhst] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. Nautical. any heavy material carried temporarily or permanently in a vessel to provide desired draft and stability.
2. Aeronautics. something heavy, as bags of sand, placed in the car of a balloon for control of altitude and, less often, of attitude, or placed in an aircraft to control the position of the center of gravity.
3. anything that gives mental, moral, or political stability or steadiness: the ballast of a steady income.
4. gravel, broken stone, slag, etc., placed between and under the ties of a railroad to give stability, provide drainage, and distribute loads.
5. Electricity. a. Also called ballast resistor. a device, often a resistor, that maintains the current in a circuit at a constant value by varying its resistance in order to counteract changes in voltage.
b. a device that maintains the current through a fluorescent or mercury lamp at the desired constant value, sometimes also providing the necessary starting voltage and current.

–verb (used with object) 6. to furnish with ballast: to ballast a ship.
7. to give steadiness to; keep steady: parental responsibilities that ballast a person.
—Idiom8. in ballast, Nautical. carrying only ballast; carrying no cargo.


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[Origin: 1520–30; < MLG, perh. ult. < Scand; cf. ODan, OSw barlast, equiv. to bar bare1 + last load; see last4]

Answer 6

depends on what you are refering to, here is a link with all the possible definitions

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ballast

Answer 7

heavy substance used to add stability or weight

Answer 8

Try reading some of these answers! TWO POINTS!!!!