Load (lōd), n. [OE. lode load, way; properly the same word as lode, but confused with lade, load, v. See Lade, Lead, v., Lode.] 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.
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He might such a load
To town with his ass carry. Gower.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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5. The charge of a firearm; as, a load of powder.
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6. Weight or violence of blows. [Obs.] Milton.
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7. (Mach.) The work done by a steam engine or other prime mover when working.
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8. The amount of work that a person, group, or machine is assigned to perform; as, the boss distributed the load evenly among his employees.
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9. (Elec.) The device or devices that consume power from a power supply.
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10. (Engineering) The weight or force that a structural support bears or is designed to bear; the object that creates that force.
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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.
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