ballast
noun/ˈbæləst/
/ˈbæləst/
[uncountable]- heavy material placed in a ship or hot-air balloon to make it heavier and keep it steadyTopics Transport by waterc2
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- a layer of stones that makes a strong base on which a road, railway, etc. can be built
Word Originmid 16th cent.: probably of Low German or Scandinavian origin.
Check pronunciation:
ballast