ballast
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.
Coarse gravel or similar material laid to form a bed for roads or railroads, or in making concrete; track ballast.
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.
Loose stone or big gravel used to hold rails and tracks in place.
device used for stabilizing current in an electric circuit (e.g. in a tube lamp supply circuit)
That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness, steadiness, and security.
Sound Patterns & Rhymes
Alliteration
Words starting with the same consonant sound — used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, emphasis, and memorable phrasing (e.g. “Peter Piper picked”)
Assonance
Words sharing similar vowel sounds regardless of starting letter — creates internal melody in writing