n.
    - a heavy or bulky thing that is being carried or is about to be carried. ▸
[ in combination]
 the total number or amount that can be carried in a vehicle or container: ![]()  a carload of people. 
- a weight or source of pressure. ▸the amount of work to be done by a person or machine. ▸a burden of responsibility, worry, or grief. 
- 
(a load of)
 informal a lot of. ▸
(a load/loads)
 plenty. 
- the amount of power supplied by a source. ▸the resistance of moving parts to be overcome by a motor. ▸Electronics  an impedance or circuit that receives or develops the output of a transistor or other device. 
v.
    - put a load on or in (a vehicle, ship, etc.). ▸(of a ship or vehicle) take on a load. 
- make (someone or something) carry or hold a large amount of heavy things. ▸
(load someone/thing with)
 supply with (something) in overwhelming abundance or to excess. 
- insert (something) into a device so that it will operate. ▸charge (a firearm) with ammunition. 
- bias towards a particular outcome.
Phrase
  
    - get a load of
 informal used to draw attention to someone or something.
- get 
(or have)
 a load on
 US informal become drunk.
- load the bases
 Baseball  have base runners on all three bases.
- load the dice against 
(or in favour of)
 put at a disadvantage (or advantage).
 
  Etymology
  OE lād ‘journey, conveyance’, of Gmc origin: rel. to lead1; cf. lode.