how to pronounce ballast

/ˈbæl.əst/

audio example by a male speaker

audio example by a female speaker

the above transcription of ballast is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

ballast is pronounced in two syllables

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1.

2. example pitch curve for pronunciation of ballast

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video examples of ballast pronunciation

An example use of ballast in a speech by a native speaker of british english:

“… ability it received a ballast also …”

meanings of ballast

noun:

Coarse gravel or similar material laid to form a bed for roads or railroads, or in making concrete.
A material, such as aggregate or precast concrete pavers, which employs its mass and the force of gravity to hold single-ply roof membranes in place.
That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness, steadiness, and security.
Device used for stabilizing current in an electric circuit (e.g. in a tube lamp supply circuit).
Heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship (or in the gondola of a balloon), to provide stability.
Anything that steadies emotion or the mind.

verb:

To stabilize or load a ship with ballast.
To lay ballast on the bed of a railroad track.

ballast frequency in english - C2+ level of CEFR

the word ballast occurs in english on average 1.2 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for C2+ level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.

topics ballast can be related to

it is hard to perfectly classify words into specific topics since each word can have many context of its use, but our machine-learning models believe that ballast can be often used in the following areas:

1) transport and travel;