Definition of: load

(lōd) noun
1. That which is laid upon anything for conveyance; a burden; specifically, as much as can be carried, or as is customarily carried.
2. That which is borne with difficulty; hence, figuratively, a grievous mental burden.
3. The charge of a firearm.
4. A weight of various amounts.
5. The resistance overcome by a motor or engine in driving machinery.
6. Downward pressure on a structure: when caused by gravity alone, it is called dead load; when caused by gravity increased by the stresses of transverse motion, it is called live load.
7. The power delivered by a machine or apparatus, especially an electric generator.
8. Slang An excess of alcoholic liquor.
9. plural Colloq. A great plenty; abundance: loads of time.
—to get a load of U.S. Slang To listen to or look at.
—v.t.
1. To put something on or into to be carried.
2. To place (a load) in or on a carrier.
3. To supply with something excessively or in abundance: to load one with honors.
4. To weigh down or oppress; burden.
5. To charge (a firearm) with ammunition.
6. To take on (a load, cargo, etc.).
7. To make heavy on one side or end by adding extra weight: to load dice or a whip.
8. To add a substance to for the purpose of falsifying; adulterate; doctor: to load silk with gum.
9. In insurance, to increase (a premium) by the addition of loading. See LOADING (def. 4).
—v.i.
10. To take on or put on a load or cargo.
11. To charge a firearm with ammunition.
12. To be charged with ammunition: The new gun loads through the breech. ♦ Homophone: lode. [OE lād way, journey, act of carrying goods. Doublet of LODE.]
—load′er noun Synonyms (noun): burden, cargo, charge, clog, encumbrance, freight, incubus, pack, weight. A burden is what one has to bear, and is used chiefly of that which is borne by a living agent. A load is what is laid upon a person, animal, or conveyance, or what is customarily so imposed: as, a load of coal. Weight measures the pressure due to gravity. A ship's load is called distinctively a cargo, or it may be known as freight or lading. Freight denotes merchandise in or for transportation. A load to be fastened upon a horse or mule is called a pack. See WEIGHT. Synonyms (verb): burden, charge, cumber, lade, oppress.