load (lōd)

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[Middle English lode, alteration (influenced by laden, to load), of lade, course, way, from Old English lād.]

noun 

1. 1. A weight or mass that is supported: the load on an arch.
   2. The overall force to which a structure is subjected in supporting a weight or mass or in resisting externally applied forces.
2. 1. Something that is carried, as by a vehicle, person, or animal: a load of firewood.
   2. The quantity that is or can be carried at one time.
3. 1. The share of work allocated to or required of a person, machine, group, or organization.
   2. 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. 1. A mental weight or burden: Good news took a load off my mind.
   2. A responsibility regarded as oppressive.
7. The external mechanical resistance against which a machine acts.
8. Electricity
   1. The power output of a generator or power plant.
   2. A device or the resistance of a device to which power is delivered.
9. A front-end load.
10. Informal A great number or amount. Often used in the plural: loads of parties during the holiday season.
11. Slang A heavy or overweight person.
12. Genetic load.

verb: load·ed, load·ing, loads. 

transitive verb 

1. 1. To put (something) into or onto a structure or conveyance: loading grain onto a train.
   2. To put something into or onto (a structure 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 insert (a necessary material) into a device: loaded film into the camera; loaded rounds into the rifle.
5. To insert a necessary material into: loaded the camera with film.
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 mutual fund share price) by adding expenses or sale costs.
11. Baseball To have or put runners on (first, second, and third base).
12. Computer Science
    1. To transfer (data) from a storage device into a computer's memory.
    2. To mount (a diskette) onto a floppy disk drive.
    3. To mount (a magnetic tape) onto a tape drive.

intransitive verb 

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.

idioms

get a load of

Slang To look at; notice. To listen to: Get a load of this!

have a load on

Slang To be intoxicated.

take a load off

To sit or lie down.