LOAD, n. See lade.
1. A burden that which is laid on or put in any thing for conveyance. Thus we lay a load on a beat or on a man's shoulders, or on a cart or wagon and we say, a light load, heavy load. A load then is indefinite in quantity or weight. But by usage, in some cases, the word has a more definite signification, and expresses a certain quantity or weight, or as much as is usually carried, or as can be well sustained. Load is never used for the cargo of a ship this is called loading, lading, freight, or cargo.
2. Any heavy burden a large quantity borne or sustained. a tree may be said to have a load of fruit upon it.
3. That which is borne with pain or difficulty a grievous weight encumbrance in a literal sense.
Jove lightened of its load th' enormous mass -
In a figurative sense, we say, a load of care or grief a load of guilt or crimes.
4. Weight or violence of blows.
5. A quantity of food or drink that oppresses, or as much as can be borne.
6. Among miners, the quantity of nine dishes of ore, each dish being about half a hundred weight.
LOAD, pret. and pp. loaded. loaden, formerly used, is obsolete and laden belongs to lade. Load, from the noun, is a regular verb.
1. To lay on a burden to put on or in something to be carried, or as much as can be carried as, to load a camel or a horse to load a cart or wagon. To load a gun, is to charge, or to put in a sufficient quantity of powder, or powder and ball or shot.
2. To encumber to lay on or put in that which is borne with pain or difficulty in a literal sense, as to load the stomach with meat or in a figurative sense, as to load the mind or memory.
3. To make heavy by something added or appended.
Thy dreadful vow, loaden with death -
So in a literal sense, to load a whip.
4. To bestow or confer on in great abundance as, to load one with honors to load with reproaches.