First Known Use: 12th century
Dictionary
1load
noun \ˈlōd\
: something that is lifted and carried
: an amount that can be carried at one time : an amount that fills something (such as a truck)
: the weight that is carried or supported by something
Full Definition of LOAD
1
a : the quantity that can be carried at one time by a specified means; especially : a measured quantity of a commodity fixed for each type of carrier —often used in combination <a boatload of tourists> b : whatever is put on a person or pack animal to be carried : pack c : whatever is put in a ship or vehicle or airplane for conveyance : cargo; especially : a quantity of material assembled or packed as a shipping unit
2
a : a mass or weight supported by something <branches bent low by their load of fruit> b : the forces to which a structure is subjected due to superposed weight or to wind pressure on the vertical surfaces; broadly : the forces to which a given object is subjected
3
a : something that weighs down the mind or spirits <took a load off her mind> b : a burdensome or laborious responsibility <always carried his share of the load>
4
slang : an intoxicating amount of liquor drunk
5
: a large quantity : lot —usually used in plural
6
a : a charge for a firearm b : the quantity of material loaded into a device at one time
7
: external resistance overcome by a machine or prime mover
8
a : power output (as of a power plant) or power consumption (as by a device) b : a device to which power is delivered
9
a (1) : the amount of work that a person carries or is expected to carry (2) : the amount of authorized work to be performed by a machine, a group, a department, or a factory b : the demand on the operating resources of a system (as a telephone exchange or a refrigerating apparatus)
10
slang : eyeful —used in the phrase get a load of
11
: the amount of a deleterious microorganism, parasite, growth, or substance present in a human or animal body <measure viral load in the blood> <the worm load in rats> —called also burden
12
: an amount added (as to the price of a security or the net premium in insurance) to represent selling expense and profit to the distributor
13
See load defined for English-language learners
See load defined for kids
Origin of LOAD
Middle English lod, from Old English lād support, carrying — more at lode
Related to LOAD
Other Civil Engineering Terms
2load
verb
: to put an amount of something in or on (something)
: to put (an amount of something) into or onto something
: to supply (someone or something) with a large amount of something
Full Definition of LOAD
transitive verb
1
a : to put a load in or on <load a truck> b : to place in or on a means of conveyance <load freight>
2
a : to encumber or oppress with something heavy, laborious, or disheartening : burden <a company loaded down with debts> b : to place as a burden or obligation <load more work on him>
3
a : to increase the weight of by adding something heavy b : to add a conditioning substance (as a mineral salt) to for body c : to weight or shape (dice) to fall unfairly d : to pack with one-sided or prejudicial influences : bias e : to charge with multiple meanings (as emotional associations or hidden implications) f : to weight (as a test) with factors influencing validity or outcome
4
5
a : to put a load or charge in (a device or piece of equipment) <load a gun> b : to place or insert especially as a load in a device or piece of equipment <load film in a camera> c : to copy or transfer (as a program or data) into a computer's memory especially from an external source (as a disk drive or the Internet)
6
: to alter (as an alcoholic drink) by adding an adulterant or drug
7
a : to add a load to (an insurance premium) b : to add a sum to after profits and expenses are accounted for <loaded prices>
intransitive verb
1
: to receive a load
2
: to put a load on or in a carrier, device, or container; especially : to insert the charge or cartridge in the chamber of a firearm
3
: to go or go in as a load <tourists loading onto a bus>
4
: to become loaded into a computer's memory <the program loads quickly>
— load·er noun
— load up on
1
: to ingest in usually large amounts <senators loading up on fried chicken and champagne — H. L. Mencken>
2
: to acquire in usually large amounts <loaded up on hot stocks>
See load defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of LOAD
15th century
LOADS Defined for Kids
1load
noun \ˈlōd\
Definition of LOAD for Kids
1
: something lifted up and carried : burden
2
: the quantity of material put into a device at one time <He washed a load of clothes.>
3
: a large number or amount <They collected loads of candy on Halloween.>
4
: a mass or weight supported by something
5
: something that causes worry or sadness <That's a load off my mind.>
6
: a charge for a firearm
2load
verb
load·edload·ing
Definition of LOAD for Kids
1
: to put a load in or on <They loaded the truck.>
2
: to supply abundantly <Newspapers loaded her with praise.>
3
: to put something into a device so it can be used <You have to load film into the camera.>
— load·er noun
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