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Definition of load

load

/loʊd/
load

Plural:loads
•
Adjective:loaded
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Past Simple:loaded
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Past Participle:loaded
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Present Participle:loading
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load Lexical Profile

load Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A heavy or bulky object or amount of material that is carried, transported, or supported.

Example

"The truck was carrying a heavy load of bricks to the construction site."


2

An amount of work, responsibility, or emotional strain that a person or organization must bear.

Example

"Hiring a new assistant helped to lighten her daily administrative load."


3

The total amount of power, processing demand, or weight that a system, structure, or machine is currently handling.

Example

"The sudden surge in web traffic placed a massive load on the company's servers."

Synonyms
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• verb

1

To fill a vehicle, container, or receptacle with a large amount of goods or materials.

Example

"We need to load the moving van carefully before the heavy rain starts."


2

To transfer a program, dataset, or file into a computer's memory so that it can be processed, executed, or displayed.

Example

"It took several minutes for the large video file to load on the older computer."


3

To insert ammunition into a weapon, or a required component into a device, to make it ready for operation.

Example

"The instructor showed the recruits how to load their rifles safely on the firing line."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for load

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'lād' meaning 'way, journey, or conveyance', derived from Proto-Germanic 'laidō' (related to the verb 'lead'). By the 13th century, the meaning shifted from the act of conveyance to the physical items being conveyed, such as cargo or a burden.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Load. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/load
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