Ballast - Definition

n 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) [syn:
ballast resistor, ballast, barretter]
5: an electrical device for starting and regulating fluorescent
and discharge lamps [syn: ballast, light ballast]
v 1: make steady with a ballast