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."
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." " Our life's a load."
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.)
7.(Mach.) The work done by a steam engine or other prime mover when working.
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.
9.(Elec.) The device or devices that consume power from a power supply.
10.(Engineering) The weight or force that a structural support bears or is designed to bear; the object that creates that force.