Definitions

1. noun

heavy material, such as sand or concrete, placed in the hold of a ship to increase stability and prevent it from becoming top-heavy.

“The ship required additional ballast to stay stable in rough seas.”

2. verb

to load with ballast, especially a ship.

“The sailors had to ballast the ship before setting sail across the ocean.”

3. noun

a structure, especially a wall, used to support or stabilize something.

“The building’s foundation was reinforced with a ballast of steel beams.”