Helen Fenton

Ballast: Definition and part of speech

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Ballast

  1. a. Fig.: That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness, steadiness, and security.
  2. a. Any heavy substance, as stone, iron, etc., put into the hold to sink a vessel in the water to such a depth as to prevent capsizing.
  3. a. Any heavy matter put into the car of a balloon to give it steadiness.
  4. a. Gravel, broken stone, etc., laid in the bed of a railroad to make it firm and solid.
  5. a. The larger solids, as broken stone or gravel, used in making concrete.

The word meanings were obtained from OPTED(The Online Plain Text English Dictionary), which is based on “The Project Gutenberg Etext of Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary” which is in turn based on the 1913 US Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary (See Project Gutenburg), as a text file.

Ballet: Definition and part of speech

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Ballet

  1. n. A bearing in coats of arms, representing one or more balls, which are denominated bezants, plates, etc., according to color.
  2. n. An artistic dance performed as a theatrical entertainment, or an interlude, by a number of persons, usually women. Sometimes, a scene accompanied by pantomime and dancing.
  3. n. The company of persons who perform the ballet.
  4. n. A light part song, or madrigal, with a fa la burden or chorus, — most common with the Elizabethan madrigal composers.

The word meanings were obtained from OPTED(The Online Plain Text English Dictionary), which is based on “The Project Gutenberg Etext of Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary” which is in turn based on the 1913 US Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary (See Project Gutenburg), as a text file.

Ball-flower: Definition and part of speech

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Ball-flower

  1. n. An ornament resembling a ball placed in a circular flower, the petals of which form a cup round it, — usually inserted in a hollow molding.

The word meanings were obtained from OPTED(The Online Plain Text English Dictionary), which is based on “The Project Gutenberg Etext of Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary” which is in turn based on the 1913 US Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary (See Project Gutenburg), as a text file.

Ballista: Definition and part of speech

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Ballista

  1. n. An ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow, used for hurling large missiles.

The word meanings were obtained from OPTED(The Online Plain Text English Dictionary), which is based on “The Project Gutenberg Etext of Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary” which is in turn based on the 1913 US Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary (See Project Gutenburg), as a text file.