ballast
US /ˈbæl.əst/
UK /ˈbæl.əst/
名詞
1.
壓艙物, 鎮流器
heavy material, such as gravel, sand, or iron, placed in the hold of a ship or the gondola of a hot-air balloon, to improve stability
範例:
•
The ship needed more ballast to remain stable in the rough seas.
船需要更多的壓艙物才能在波濤洶湧的海上保持穩定。
•
Hot-air balloons use sandbags as ballast to control altitude.
熱氣球使用沙袋作為壓艙物來控制高度。
2.
穩定物, 支柱, 基礎
something that gives stability or substance
範例:
•
His calm demeanor served as a much-needed emotional ballast during the crisis.
在危機期間，他沉著的舉止起到了急需的情感穩定作用。
•
The traditions of the community provided a moral ballast for its members.
社區的傳統為其成員提供了道德支柱。
動詞
裝壓艙物, 壓載
to give stability to (a ship) by loading it with ballast
範例:
•
They had to ballast the ship before setting sail.
他們必須在啟航前給船裝上壓艙物。
•
The submarine was ballasted with water to submerge.
潛艇用海水壓載以潛入水下。