BALLAST

vt to keep steady; to steady, morally.

2. ballast ·vt to steady, as a vessel, by putting heavy substances in the hold.

3. ballast ·adj any heavy matter put into the car of a balloon to give it steadiness.

4. ballast ·adj the larger solids, as broken stone or gravel, used in making concrete.

5. ballast ·adj gravel, broken stone, ·etc., laid in the bed of a railroad to make it firm and solid.

6. ballast ·adj fig.: that which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness, steadiness, and security.

7. ballast ·vt to fill in, as the bed of a railroad, with gravel, stone, ·etc., in order to make it firm and solid.

8. ballast ·adj any heavy substance, as stone, iron, ·etc., put into the hold to sink a vessel in the water to such a depth as to prevent capsizing.