1. (

• ballast

) any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship ;

2. (

• ballast

) coarse gravel laid to form a bed for streets and railroads ;

3. (

• ballast

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

4. (

• ballast_resistor ,
• ballast ,
• barretter

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

5. (

• ballast ,
• light_ballast

) an electrical device for starting and regulating fluorescent and discharge lamps ;

1. (

• ballast

) make steady with a ballast ;