Load
Load (lōd) , noun
[Old English lode load, way; properly the same word as lode, but confused with lade, load, v. See Lade, Lead, v., Lode.]
1.
A burden; that which is laid on or put in anything for conveyance; that which is borne or sustained; a weight; as, a heavy load.
He might such a load
To town with his ass carry.
2.
The quantity which can be carried or drawn in some specified way; the contents of a cart, barrow, or vessel; that which will constitute a cargo; lading.
3.
That which burdens, oppresses, or grieves the mind or spirits; as, a load of care.
A... load of guilt.
Our life's a load.
4.
A particular measure for certain articles, being as much as may be carried at one time by the conveyance commonly used for the article measured; as, a load of wood; a load of hay; specifically, five quarters.
5.
The charge of a firearm; as, a load of powder.
6.
Weight or violence of blows. [Obsolete] — Milton
7.
(Machinery) The work done by a steam engine or other prime mover when working.
8.
The amount of work that a person, group, or machine is assigned to perform; as, the boss distributed the load evenly among his employees.
9.
(Electricity) The device or devices that consume power from a power supply.
10.
(Engineering) The weight or force that a structural support bears or is designed to bear; the object that creates that force.
Collocations (1)
Load line or Load water line (Nautical) , the line on the outside of a vessel indicating the depth to which it sinks in the water when loaded.
Load , transitive verb
1.
To lay a load or burden on or in, as on a horse or in a cart; to charge with a load, as a gun; to furnish with a lading or cargo, as a ship; hence, to add weight to, so as to oppress or embarrass; to heap upon.
I strive all in vain to load the cart.
I have loaden me with many spoils.
Those honors deep and broad, wherewith
Your majesty loads our house.
2.
To adulterate or drug; as, to load wine. [Cant]
3.
To magnetize. [Obsolete] — Prior
Collocations (1)
Loaded dice , dice with one side made heavier than the others, so that the number on the opposite side will come up oftenest.