- ballast⇄ballast, noun, verb.
- ballast⇄expr. in ballast, (of a ship) with no load other than ballast.
Ex. When in ballast the Bywell Castle draws 12 feet aft (London Daily News). - ballast⇄noun ballaster.
- ballast⇄noun 1. something heavy carried in the hold of a ship to steady it.
Ex. Most ships use seawater as ballast. As the ship takes on cargo, the ballast water is pumped out (Lionel Casson).
2. bags of sand or other heavy material carriedin a ball - ballast⇄v.t. 1. to put ballast in (ships or balloons); furnish or steady with ballast.
2. to put gravel or crushed rock on.
3. (Figurative.) to give stability or steadiness to.