load
load
(lōd) noun
Abbr. ld.
1.
a. A weight or mass that is supported: the load on an arch. b. The overall force to which a structure is subjected in supporting a weight or mass or in resisting externally applied forces.
2. a. Something that is carried, as by a vehicle, a person, or an animal: a load of firewood. b. The quantity that is or can be carried at one time.
3. a. The share of work allocated to or required of a person, a machine, a group, or an organization. b. The demand for services or performance made on a machine or system.
4. The amount of material that can be inserted into a device or machine at one time: The camera has a full load of film.
5. A single charge of ammunition for a firearm.
6. a. A mental weight or burden: Good news took a load off my mind. b. A responsibility regarded as oppressive.
7. The external mechanical resistance against which a machine acts.
8. Electricity. a. The power output of a generator or power plant. b. A device or the resistance of a device to which power is delivered.
9. A front-end load.
10. Often loads Informal. A great number or amount: loads of parties during the holiday season.
11. Slang. A satisfying view; an eyeful: Get a load of that new car!
12. Genetic load.
verb
loaded
, loading, loads
verb
, transitive
1.
a. To put (something) into or onto a structure, device, or conveyance: loading grain onto a train. b. To put something into or onto (a structure, device, or conveyance): loaded the tanker with crude oil.
2. To provide or fill nearly to overflowing; heap: loaded the table with food.
3. To weigh down; burden: was loaded with worries.
4. To charge (a firearm) with ammunition.
5. To insert a necessary material into: loaded tape into the recorder.
6. Games. To make (dice) heavier on one side by adding weight.
7. To charge with additional meanings, implications, or emotional import: loaded the question to trick the witness.
8. To dilute, adulterate, or doctor. See synonyms at adulterate.
9. To raise the power demand in (an electrical circuit), as by adding resistance.
10. To increase (an insurance premium or a mutual fund share price) by adding expenses or sale costs.
11. Baseball. To have or put runners on (all three bases).
12. Computer Science. a. To transfer (data) from a storage device into a computer's memory. b. To mount (a diskette) onto a floppy disk drive. c. To mount (a magnetic tape) onto a tape drive.
verb
, intransitive
1.
To receive a load: Container ships can load rapidly.
2.
To charge a firearm with ammunition.
3.
To put or place a load into or onto a structure, device, or conveyance.
[Middle English lode, alteration (influenced by laden, to load). See
lade, of lade, course, way, from Old English lād.]