How Do You Spell BALLAST?

Pronunciation: [bˈaləst] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "ballast" is influenced by its pronunciation. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced as /ˈbæləst/. The "b" and "a" sounds are pronounced as expected, but the "ll" is pronounced as a single "l". This is because in some dialects, "ll" is pronounced with a vowel-like sound, as in "ballet". The "a" and "s" sounds are then pronounced as expected, with stress on the first syllable. The correct spelling of a word is essential for clear communication.

Meaning and Definition
Top Common Misspellings
Other Common Misspellings
Etymology
Similar spelling words
Plural
Conjugate verb
Basic Check Advanced Check

BALLAST Meaning and Definition

  1. Ballast is a noun that has multiple meanings and functions within different contexts. One of its primary definitions is as a heavy material that is used to stabilize or balance a ship or other large vessel. In this sense, ballast is often stones, iron, or other dense substances that are loaded into the hold of a ship to ensure its stability in the water and prevent excess rolling or listing.

    Ballast can also refer to any material used to stabilize or balance other structures or equipment, such as a crane, rail tracks, or a vehicle. For example, in the context of railways, ballast is the crushed rock or gravel that is laid beneath the sleepers to provide support and prevent the tracks from shifting or sinking.

    Another meaning of ballast pertains to its figurative use in relation to stability, firmness, or steadiness. It can describe something that provides a psychological or emotional foundation, offering support and equilibrium. In this sense, ballast represents the grounding force that helps individuals maintain their stability and balance amid challenging circumstances or turbulent emotions.

    Furthermore, ballast can be used metaphorically to describe people or things that are used to balance or stabilize a group or situation. For instance, a calming and rational individual within a team or an idea that counteracts extreme viewpoints can be referred to as a ballast.

    In summary, ballast encompasses the concepts of physical stability, material substance used for support or balance, as well as figurative elements relating to psychological equilibrium and stabilizing influences.

  2. • Any heavy substance placed at the bottom of a ship or boat to steady it; the load of sand, stones, &c., which a ship carries when there is no cargo; the gravel, broken stones, &c., placed on the permanent way of a railway, immediately under the sleepers and rails, in order to steady them.
    • To steady; to load with ballast.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for BALLAST *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for BALLAST

Etymology of BALLAST

The word "ballast" comes from the Old Swedish word "ballast" or "ballest", which means "cargo to be thrown overboard". It originated from the Dutch word "ballest", which carried the same meaning. The Dutch word was further derived from the Low German word "ballest", meaning "to throw" or "to balance". It can be traced back to the Old Norse word "baldr", which means "pile" or "heap". Ultimately, the word can be connected to the Proto-Indo-European root "bhel" or "bhol", meaning "to swell" or "to blow up", possibly alluding to the concept of balancing and stabilizing the ship's load. The concept of ballast was initially used in maritime terminology to refer to the weights carried in ships to stabilize and balance them during their voyage.

Similar spelling words for BALLAST

Plural form of BALLAST is BALLASTS

Conjugate verb Ballast

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have ballasted
you would have ballasted
he/she/it would have ballasted
we would have ballasted
they would have ballasted
I would have ballast
you would have ballast
he/she/it would have ballast
we would have ballast
they would have ballast

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been ballasting
you would have been ballasting
he/she/it would have been ballasting
we would have been ballasting
they would have been ballasting

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would ballast
you would ballast
he/she/it would ballast
we would ballast
they would ballast

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be ballasting
you would be ballasting
he/she/it would be ballasting
we would be ballasting
they would be ballasting

FUTURE

I will ballast
you will ballast
he/she/it will ballast
we will ballast
they will ballast

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be ballasting
you will be ballasting
he/she/it will be ballasting
we will be ballasting
they will be ballasting

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have ballasted
you will have ballasted
he/she/it will have ballasted
we will have ballasted
they will have ballasted

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been ballasting
you will have been ballasting
he/she/it will have been ballasting
we will have been ballasting
they will have been ballasting

IMPERATIVE

you ballast
we let´s ballast

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to ballast

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was ballasting
you were ballasting
he/she/it was ballasting
we were ballasting
they were ballasting

PAST PARTICIPLE

ballasted

PAST PERFECT

I had ballasted
you had ballasted
he/she/it had ballasted
we had ballasted
they had ballasted

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been ballasting
you had been ballasting
he/she/it had been ballasting
we had been ballasting
they had been ballasting

PRESENT

I ballast
you ballast
he/she/it ballasts
we ballast
they ballast

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am ballasting
you are ballasting
he/she/it is ballasting
we are ballasting
they are ballasting

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

ballasting

PRESENT PERFECT

I have ballasted
you have ballasted
he/she/it has ballasted
we have ballasted
they have ballasted

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been ballasting
you have been ballasting
he/she/it has been ballasting
we have been ballasting
they have been ballasting

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it ballast

SIMPLE PAST

I ballasted
you ballasted
he/she/it ballasted
we ballasted
they ballasted

Infographic

Correct spelling for ballast
Add the infographic to your website: