ballast

• اسم يدل على مادة ثقيلة تُستخدم لتثبيت السفينة أو المنطاد، أو حصى خشن يُفرش أساسًا للطرق والسكك الحديدية؛ ويُستعمل مجازًا للدلالة على ما يمنح الشخصية أو المبادئ ثباتًا واستقرارًا، وتقنيًا على مقاومة أو جهاز كهربائي يُنظّم التيار في المصابيح.

A noun referring to heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship, or coarse gravel used as a bed for roads and railroads; also used figuratively to describe something that provides stability in character or morals, and technically as a resistor or electrical device for regulating lamps.

1. Stabilizing material for vesselsB2formal

   Heavy material, such as water, sand, or iron, placed in a ship's hold or an airship to improve stability and control buoyancy.

   ثقل الموازنة

   • The ship took on ballast to maintain its balance in the rough sea.
   • The airship released some ballast to ascend higher.
   • Engineers calculated the exact amount of ballast needed for the vessel.

   المرادفاتcounterbalancecounterweightstabilizer

2. Railroad or road bed materialB2formal

   Coarse gravel or crushed stone laid down to form a stable foundation for railroad tracks or roads.

   البَلاسْت (حصى السكة الحديدية/الطرق)

   • Workers spread ballast evenly along the railway line.
   • The road construction crew used crushed rock as ballast.
   • Proper ballast is essential for track alignment and drainage.

3. Stabilizing influence on characterC1formal

   Something that provides stability, steadiness, or moral grounding to a person's character or emotions.

   عامل استقرار

   • Her strong principles served as ballast during difficult times.
   • His sense of humor was a ballast against the stress of work.
   • The family traditions provided emotional ballast for the children.

   المرادفاتanchorbalancecounterbalancefoundationgroundingstabilitysteadinesssupport

4. Electrical resistorC1formal

   A resistor used in an electrical circuit to compensate for changes, such as those caused by temperature fluctuations.

   مقاومة الصابورة الكهربائية

   • The technician replaced the ballast in the circuit to stabilize the current.
   • A ballast resistor is often used in older ignition systems.
   • Temperature changes can affect the performance of a ballast.

   المرادفاتballast resistor

5. Device for fluorescent lampsB2formal

   An electrical device that regulates the current in a fluorescent or discharge lamp, providing the necessary starting voltage and limiting current during operation.

   كابح التيار الكهربائي للمصباح

   • The fluorescent light flickered because the ballast was failing.
   • He replaced the old ballast with a new electronic one.
   • A faulty ballast can cause the lamp to hum or not start.

   المرادفاتchokereactor

• فعل يعني تزويد السفينة أو المركبة أو المنشأة بثقل أو مادة ثقيلة لتحقيق الاتزان أو الاستقرار أو زيادة الوزن.

A verb meaning to provide stability or weight to a structure, vehicle, or vessel, typically by adding heavy material.

1. Stabilize a vesselB2formal

   To provide a ship or airship with heavy material to improve stability and control.

   ثقل السفينة

   • The crew ballasted the ship with sandbags before the storm.
   • They ballasted the airship to maintain altitude.
   • The captain ordered the crew to ballast the vessel properly.

   المرادفاتbalancecounterbalancesteady

   الأضدادdestabilizeunsettle

2. Provide stability or steadinessC1formal

   To give something a steadying influence, whether physical, emotional, or structural.

   توفير الثبات

   • Her calm demeanor ballasted the team during the crisis.
   • The new regulations ballasted the financial system against shocks.
   • His experience ballasted the young entrepreneur's risky ideas.

   المرادفاتanchorbalancecounterbalancesecuresteadysupport

   الأضدادdestabilizedisruptunsettleupset

3. Fill with gravelB2formal

   To lay or fill a bed with coarse gravel, especially for a railroad or road.

   رصف بالحصى

   • The workers ballasted the railway track with crushed stone.
   • They ballasted the roadbed to ensure proper drainage.
   • The construction crew ballasted the foundation with gravel.

   المرادفاتgravel