■ noun
1》 a heavy or bulky thing that is being carried or is about to be carried.
↘[in combination ] the total number or amount that can be carried in a vehicle or container: a car~ of people.
2》 a weight or source of pressure.
↘the amount of work to be done by a person or machine.
↘a burden of responsibility, worry, or grief.
3》 ( a ~ of ) informal a lot of.
↘( a ~/~s ) plenty.
4》 the amount of power supplied by a source.
↘the resistance of moving parts to be overcome by a motor.
↘ Electronics an impedance or circuit that receives or develops the output of a transistor or other device.
■ verb
1》 put a ~ on or in (a vehicle, ship, etc.).
↘(of a ship or vehicle) take on a ~.
2》 make (someone or something) carry or hold a large amount of heavy things.
↘( ~ someone/thing with ) supply with (something) in overwhelming abundance or to excess.
3》 insert (something) into a device so that it will operate.
↘charge (a firearm) with ammunition.
4》 bias towards a particular outcome.
Phrases
get a ~ of informal used to draw attention to someone or something.
get (or have ) a ~ on US informal become drunk.
~ the bases Baseball have base runners on all three bases.
~ the dice against (or in favour of ) put at a disadvantage (or advantage).
Origin
OE lād 'journey, conveyance', of Gmc origin: related to lead 1 ; cf. lode .