ballast

• Matériau lourd utilisé pour stabiliser un navire ou un aérostat, ou gros gravier servant de fondation aux routes et voies ferrées ; s'emploie aussi au sens figuré pour ce qui assure la stabilité du caractère ou des principes moraux, et techniquement comme résistance ou dispositif électrique régulant les lampes.

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.

   Lest (pour navire ou aéronef)

   • 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.

   Synonymescounterbalancecounterweightstabilizer

2. Railroad or road bed materialB2formal

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

   Ballast (assise de voie)

   • 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.

   Influence stabilisatrice

   • 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.

   Synonymesanchorbalancecounterbalancefoundationgroundingstabilitysteadinesssupport

4. Electrical resistorC1formal

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

   Ballast électrique

   • 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.

   Synonymesballast 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.

   Ballast pour lampes fluorescentes

   • 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.

   Synonymeschokereactor

• Verbe signifiant assurer la stabilité ou le poids d'une structure, d'un véhicule ou d'un navire, généralement en ajoutant un matériau lourd.

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.

   Lester un navire

   • 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.

   Synonymesbalancecounterbalancesteady

   Antonymesdestabilizeunsettle

2. Provide stability or steadinessC1formal

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

   Stabiliser

   • 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.

   Synonymesanchorbalancecounterbalancesecuresteadysupport

   Antonymesdestabilizedisruptunsettleupset

3. Fill with gravelB2formal

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

   Ballaster (voie ferrée, route)

   • 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.

   Synonymesgravel