ballast

名词 ballast:

1. any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship
2. coarse gravel laid to form a bed for streets and railroads
3. an attribute that tends to give stability in character and morals; something that steadies the mind or feelings
4. a resistor inserted into a circuit to compensate for changes (as those arising from temperature fluctuations)
   同义词：ballast resistor, barretter
5. an electrical device for starting and regulating fluorescent and discharge lamps
   同义词：light ballast

动词 ballast:

1. make steady with a ballast

1. The readiness of a vessel for sailing with regard to ballast, sails, and yards.
   船的航行状态从船的压载、船帆和帆桁方面考虑看船的状况是否能够航行
2. He has got no ballast whatever.
   他这个人一点也不沉着。
3. Pig iron used as permanent ballast.
   压载铁做为永久性压舱物的生铁
4. The ballast placed in the ship can keep the ship steady.
   放在船上的压舱物可以保持船的平稳。

bal.last

n.（名词）
Heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship or the gondola of a balloon to enhance stability.
压舱物，压载：放在船舱或气球吊篮里以增加稳定性的重物

Coarse gravel or crushed rock laid to form a bed for roads or railroads.
道碴：用来铺公路或铁路路基的粗砂砾或碎石
The gravel ingredient of concrete.
石碴：组成混凝土的砂料
Something that gives stability, especially in character.
稳定因素：表明稳定性的因素，尤指在性格方面
v.tr.（及物动词）
bal.last.ed,bal.last.ing,bal.lasts
To stabilize or provide with ballast.
用压载物来稳定或支撑
To fill (a railroad bed) with or as if with ballast.
铺沙石：用或似用沙石铺（铁路路基）

来源：
Perhaps from Old Swedish
可能源自 古瑞典语
or Old Danish barlast
或 古丹麦语 barlast
bar [mere, bare] * see bhoso-
bar [仅仅的，仅有的] *参见 bhoso-
last [load]
last [载重]