noun/verbmasculinepl: ballasts
lastro
1. Heavy material (such as gravel, sand, or iron) placed in the hold of a ship to improve stability and balance
The ship loaded ballast before setting sail on the empty return voyage.
O navio carregou lastro antes de zarpar na viagem de retorno vazia.
2. Gravel or crushed stone laid beneath railroad tracks to provide support and stability
Railroad workers spread ballast under the tracks to ensure proper drainage and alignment.
Os trabalhadores ferroviários espalharam lastro sob os trilhos para garantir drenagem adequada e alinhamento.
3. Any stabilizing or counterbalancing element or influence
Her wisdom served as a ballast to keep the project grounded and focused.
Sua sabedoria serviu como um lastro para manter o projeto fundamentado e focado.
4. A device in electrical or lighting equipment that regulates current flow
The ballast in the fluorescent lamp controls the electrical current.
O reator na lâmpada fluorescente controla o fluxo de corrente elétrica.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'lastro' is commonly used in maritime, railroad, and engineering contexts. Figuratively, it represents stability and grounding—concepts valued in both business and personal contexts. The term is widely understood across all Portuguese-speaking regions and carries the same technical and metaphorical meanings in both Brazil and Portugal.
Related Idioms & Phrases
provide ballast to something - to stabilize or ground something
act as ballast - to serve a stabilizing function
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