What is load? Pronunciation and usage in English

load means . Learn how to pronounce and use load through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of load

loadnoun/verb

/ləʊd/
Definition & pronunciation of load

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "load" in English. There are actually two common pronunciations, and it depends on the context!

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (as in "to load a truck"):

  • Pronunciation: /lōd/ (rhymes with "odd")
  • Breakdown:
    • "lo": Pronounced like the word "low" (as in, low to the ground).
    • "d": A simple, short 'd' sound.
  • Emphasis: The emphasis is on the first syllable ("lo").

2. The Less Common Pronunciation (as in "load up" - to fill something):

  • Pronunciation: /lōd/ (pronounced the same as above!) – This is also a very common pronunciation.

Key Points to Remember:

  • The “o” sound: Both pronunciations use a short “o” sound, similar to the “o” in “hot” or “got”.
  • Stress: The emphasis is almost always on the first syllable (“lo”).

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What context are you hearing or trying to pronounce "load" in? (e.g., a truck, filling a bag, etc.)

Usage and examples with the word load in English

Let's break down how to use the word "load" in English. It’s a surprisingly versatile word with many different meanings! Here's a breakdown categorized by common usages:

1. Moving Things (Physical Load):

  • To fill something: This is the most common meaning.
    • "I need to load the dishwasher." (Fill it with dishes)
    • "They loaded the truck with boxes." (Filled the truck with boxes)
    • "Please load the luggage into the car." (Put the luggage in the car)
  • To put something onto a vehicle:
    • “He loaded his bike onto the train.”
  • To put something onto a machine:
    • “Load the paper into the printer.”

2. Electronic Load (Computers & Devices):

  • To transfer data to a device:
    • "I need to load the software onto my computer." (Install and copy the software)
    • "The website loaded slowly." (The content of the website became available.) – This is often paired with "load" as an adjective: "a slow load"
  • To fill a storage space:
    • "The hard drive is loaded with files." (It's full of files.)

3. Figurative/Abstract Load (Burden, Responsibility):

  • To burden someone: This implies placing a heavy responsibility or problem on someone.
    • "He loaded her with work." (He gave her a lot of work to do)
    • "Don't load yourself down with too many worries." (Don’t worry about too many things)
  • To influence or affect:
    • "The new regulations loaded the market with uncertainty." (The regulations created a sense of uncertainty.)
  • To suppress or contain something:
    • "The government loaded the issue with rhetoric." (The government filled the discussion with lots of speeches and statements, often to avoid taking action)

4. "Load" as a Verb (Less Common):

  • To charge (a weapon): (More formal, often used in military contexts)
    • "He loaded the rifle." (He put ammunition into the rifle)

5. "Load" as a Noun (Less Common):

  • A quantity of something: (Often used with specific items)
    • "The load of coal was heavy." (The amount of coal was heavy)
    • "A load of laundry.” (A pile of laundry)

Here’s a table summarizing the different meanings:

Meaning Part of Speech Example
Physical Filling Verb "Load the car with groceries."
Electronic Data Verb "Load the program onto my phone."
Burden/Pressure Verb "Don’t load yourself with guilt."
Quantity Noun "The truck carried a heavy load.”

Tips for Using “Load” Correctly:

  • Context is key: The meaning of "load" will always depend on the context of the sentence.
  • Pay attention to surrounding words: Words like "truck," "computer," "software," "work," or "burden" will help you understand what "load" refers to.
  • Consider the tense: “Load” is most commonly used in the present tense (e.g., “Load the dishwasher”).

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of usage are you most interested in? (e.g., moving things, computers, figurative language?)
  • Do you have a specific sentence you're trying to use "load" in?

Synonyms for the word load

Idioms of the word load

get a load of somebody/something
(informal)used to tell somebody to look at or listen to somebody/something
  • Get a load of that dress!

Practice with vocabulary load

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The project manager warned that taking on too many responsibilities at once would create an unsustainable ______ for the team.
  2. Before submitting your application, please ensure all required documents are attached to the email, as incomplete submissions will not be processed.
  3. The IT department had to upgrade the server infrastructure to handle the increased data ______ from new user registrations.
  4. Employees must complete the mandatory safety training modules by the end of the month to ensure compliance with company regulations.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which of the following words can replace "burden" in the sentence: "The new compliance requirements placed a significant burden on small businesses"? a) pressure b) stress c) load d) weight

  2. When referring to the amount of work or responsibility an individual has, which terms are appropriate? a) workload b) duties c) capacity d) tasks

  3. The cargo plane was carefully weighed before takeoff to ensure it did not exceed its maximum ______ capacity. a) mass b) content c) load d) volume

  4. Which word best describes the act of transferring data from a remote server to a local computer? a) upload b) download c) transfer d) transmit

  5. The increased network traffic caused the system to slow down, impacting the performance of online applications. Which word describes the heavy utilization of network resources? a) congestion b) strain c) load d) saturation

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The truck had too many boxes, making it difficult to drive safely. (Rewrite using a form of "load")
  2. Please add the software onto your computer from the internet. (Rewrite using a form of "load")
  3. The executive expressed his concerns about the extensive amount of work each department was currently handling. (Rewrite, but do not use "load")

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The project manager warned that taking on too many responsibilities at once would create an unsustainable load for the team.
  2. Before submitting your application, please ensure all required documents are attached to the email, as incomplete submissions will not be processed.
  3. The IT department had to upgrade the server infrastructure to handle the increased data load from new user registrations.
  4. Employees must complete the mandatory safety training modules by the end of the month to ensure compliance with company regulations.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) load
  2. a) workload, b) duties, d) tasks (Capacity refers to the maximum amount that can be handled, not the amount currently being handled)
  3. c) load
  4. b) download
  5. a) congestion, c) load, d) saturation

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The truck was overloaded, making it difficult to drive safely.
  2. Please download the software onto your computer from the internet.
  3. The executive expressed his concerns about the extensive volume of work each department was currently handling.

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