1a heavy or bulky thing that is being carried or is about to be carried:in addition to their own food, they must carry a load of up to eighty pounds
[in combination] the total number or amount that can be carried in something, typically a vehicle or container:a lorry-load of soldiers
a quantity of items washed or to be washed in a washing machine or dishwasher at one time:I do at least six loads of washing a week
the material carried along by a stream, glacier, ocean current, etc.:the streams deposited their loads, leaving thin sheets of gravel or sand
2a weight or source of pressure borne by someone or something:the increased load on the heart caused by a raised arterial pressurethe arch has hollow spandrels to lighten the load on the foundations
the amount of work to be done by a person or machine:Arthur has a light teaching load
a burden of responsibility, worry, or grief.
3 (a load of) informal a lot of:she was talking a load of rubbish
(a load/loads) plenty:she spends loads of money on clothesthere’s loads to see here, even when it rains
4the amount of power supplied by a source; the resistance of moving parts to be overcome by a motor:if the wire in the fuse is too thin to accept the load it will melt
the amount of electricity supplied by a generating system at any given time.
Electronics an impedance or circuit that receives or develops the output of a transistor or other device.
verb
[with object]
1fill (a vehicle, ship, container, etc.) with a large amount of something:they go to Calais to load up their vans with cheap beer
[with object and adverbial] place (a load or large quantity of something) on or in a vehicle, ship, container, etc.:stolen property from a burglary was loaded into a taxi
[no object] (of a ship or vehicle) take on a load:when we came to the quay the ship was still loading
[no object] (load up on) informal take, buy, or consume a large amount of:I just went down to the store and loaded up on beer
2make (someone or something) carry or hold a large or excessive quantity of heavy things:Elaine was loaded down with bags full of shopping
(load someone/thing with) supply someone or something with (something) in overwhelming abundance or to excess:the King and Queen loaded Columbus with wealth and honours
bias towards a particular outcome:the odds were loaded against them before the match
3charge (a firearm) with ammunition:he began to load the gun
insert something into (a device) so that it can be operated:load your camera before you startfollowing breakfast we clear the table and load the dishwasher
insert (something) into a device so that it will operate:load the cassette into the camcorder
Computing transfer (a program or data) into memory, or into the central processor from storage:when the program is loaded into the microcomputer, the CPU carries out each instruction
4add an extra charge to (an insurance premium) to take account of a factor that increases the risk.
Phrases
get a load of
informal used to draw attention to someone or something:get a load of that blonde girl!
get (or have) a load on
US informal become drunk:he got a load on and decided he was going to break every window in the street
load the bases
Baseball have base runners on all three bases.
load the dice against/in favour of someone
put someone at a disadvantage or advantage.
take a (or the) load off one's feet
sit or lie down.
take a load off someone's mind
bring someone relief from anxiety:providing the income you will need after you stop work can take a load off your mind
under load
subject to a mechanical or electrical load:when the drill is under load, the speed will drop
Origin:
Old Englishlād 'way, journey, conveyance', of Germanic origin: related to German Leite, also to lead1; compare with lode. The verb dates from the late 15th century
