n. & v.
--n.
1. a what is carried or is to be carried; a burden. b an amount usu. or actually carried (often in comb.: a busload of tourists; a lorry-load of bricks).
2 a unit of measure or weight of certain substances.
3 a burden or commitment of work, responsibility, care, grief, etc.
4 (in pl.; often foll. by of) colloq. plenty; a lot.
5 a Electr. the amount of power supplied by a generating system at any given time. b Electronics an impedance or circuit that receives or develops the output of a transistor or other device.
6 the weight or force borne by the supporting part of a structure.
7 a material object or force acting as a weight or clog.
8 the resistance of machinery to motive power.
--v.
1. tr. a put a load on or aboard (a person, vehicle, ship, etc.). b place (a load or cargo) aboard a ship, on a vehicle, etc.
2 intr. (often foll. by up) (of a ship, vehicle, or person) take a load aboard, pick up a load.
3 tr. (often foll. by with) a add weight to; be a weight or burden upon. b oppress (a stomach loaded with food).
4 tr. strain the bearing-capacity of (a table loaded with food).
5 tr. (also load up) (foll. by with) a supply overwhelmingly (loaded us with work). b assail overwhelmingly (loaded us with abuse).
6 tr. charge (a firearm) with ammunition.
7 tr. insert (the required operating medium) in a device, e.g. film in a camera, magnetic tape in a tape recorder, a program into a computer, etc.
8 tr. add an extra charge to (an insurance premium) in the case of a poorer risk.
9 tr. a weight with lead. b give a bias to (dice, a roulette wheel, etc.) with weights.
Phrases and idioms:
get a load of sl. listen attentively to; notice. load-displacement (or -draught) the displacement of a ship when laden. load line a Plimsoll line.
Etymology: OE lad way, journey, conveyance, f. Gmc: rel. to LEAD(1), LODE