- goods carried by a large vehicle

- weight to be borne or conveyed

- electrical device to which electrical power is delivered

- the front part of a guided missile or rocket or torpedo that carries the nuclear or explosive charge or the chemical or biological agents

- an onerous or difficult concern
"the burden of responsibility"
"that''s a load off my mind"

- a deposit of valuable ore occurring within definite boundaries separating it from surrounding rocks

- the power output of a generator or power plant

- an amount of alcohol sufficient to intoxicate
"he got a load on and started a brawl"

- a quantity that can be processed or transported at one time
"the system broke down under excessive loads"

- fill or place a load on
"load a car"
"load the truck with hay"

- provide with munition
"He loaded his gun carefully"

- put (something) on a structure or conveyance
"load the bags onto the trucks"

1. A burden; that which is laid on or put in anything for conveyance; that which is borne or sustained; a weight; as, a heavy load.

"He might such a load To town with his ass carry." -- Gower.

2. The quantity which can be carried or drawn in some specified way; the contents of a cart, barrow, or vessel; that which will constitute a cargo; lading.

3. That which burdens, oppresses, or grieves the mind or spirits; as, a load of care. " A . . . load of guilt." Ray. " Our life's a load." Dryden.

4. A particular measure for certain articles, being as much as may be carried at one time by the conveyance commonly used for the article measured; as, a load of wood; a load of hay; specifically, five quarters.

5. The charge of a firearm; as, a load of powder.

6. Weight or violence of blows. [Obs.] Milton.

7. (Mach.) The work done by a steam engine or other prime mover when working.

Load line
or Load water line
(Naut.), the line on the outside of a vessel indicating the depth to which it sinks in the water when loaded.

Syn. -- Burden; lading; weight; cargo. See Burden.

1. To lay a load or burden on or in, as on a horse or in a cart; to charge with a load, as a gun; to furnish with a lading or cargo, as a ship; hence, to add weight to, so as to oppress or embarrass; to heap upon.

"I strive all in vain to load the cart." -- Gascoigne.

"I have loaden me with many spoils." -- Shak.

"Those honors deep and broad, wherewith Your majesty loads our house." -- Shak.

2. To adulterate or drug; as, to load wine. [Cant]

3. To magnetize.[Obs.] Prior.

Loaded dice
dice with one side made heavier than the others, so that the number on the opposite side will come up oftenest.