Load , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Loaded;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Loading. Loaden is obsolete, and laden belongs to lade.]
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.
Load (?), 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.
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.
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