Ballast



GRE 蓝宝 Barron

解释

GRE 红宝书

• n. ( 船等) 压舱物
• ［英］ n. ( 船等) 压舱物 ( anything heavy carried in a ship, aircraft, or vehicle to give s tability)
• ［记］ 分割记忆: ball-last, 最后的球 -> 压舱物

Webster Collegiate

I. noun

• Etymology: probably from Low German, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish & Swedish barlast ballast; perhaps akin to Old English b?r bare & to Old English hl?st load, hladan to load — more at lade
• Date: 1530
• 1. a heavy substance placed in such a way as to improve stability and control (as of the draft of a ship or the buoyancy of a balloon or submarine)
• 2. something that gives stability (as in character or conduct)
• 3. gravel or broken stone laid in a railroad bed or used in making concrete
• 4. a device used to provide the starting voltage or to stabilize the current in a circuit (as of a fluorescent lamp)

II. transitive verb

• Date: 1538
• 1. to steady or equip with or as if with ballast
• 2. to fill in (as a railroad bed) with ballast

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