ballast

Definitions

1. 1.Any heavy matter put into the car of a balloon to give it steadiness.
2. 2.Gravel, broken stone, etc., laid in the bed of a railroad to make it firm and solid.
3. 3.The larger solids, as broken stone or gravel, used in making concrete.
4. 4.Fig.: That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness, steadiness, and security. It [piety] is the right ballast of prosperity. Barrow. Ballast engine, a steam engine used in excavating and for digging and raising stones and gravel for ballast. -- Ship in ballast, a ship carring only ballast.
5. 5.To steady, as a vessel, by putting heavy substances in the hold.
6. 6.To fill in, as the bed of a railroad, with gravel, stone, etc., in order to make it firm and solid.
7. 7.To keep steady; to steady, morally. 'T is charity must ballast the heart. Hammond.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "ballast" mean?
• What is another word for "ballast"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is ballast.

• What is any heavy matter put into the car of a balloon to give it steadiness called?
• What is gravel, broken stone, etc., laid in the bed of a railroad to make it firm and solid called?
• What is the larger solids, as broken stone or gravel, used in making concrete called?
• What is to steady, as a vessel, by putting heavy substances in the hold called?
• What is to fill in, as the bed of a railroad, with gravel, stone, etc., in order to make it firm and solid called?
• What is to keep steady; to steady, morally. 'T is charity must ballast the heart. Hammond called?