Load means the amount of something being carried or the weight something has to support. A truck driver checks the load to make sure the cargo is secure before heading down the highway. A pack mule carries a load of supplies up a mountain trail. When you load the dishwasher, you're filling it with dirty plates and cups.

The word appears in many contexts. A building's structure must support the load of everything inside it, including people, furniture, and equipment. Athletes talk about their training load, meaning how much exercise they're doing. Students might feel overwhelmed by a heavy course load when they're taking several challenging classes at once.

When something is loaded, it's filled up or prepared for use. A loaded question is one that contains a hidden assumption or tries to trap you into a particular answer. A loaded statement carries extra meaning beyond the obvious words. You might hear someone say “that's loaded with sugar” about a breakfast cereal, meaning it contains a surprisingly large amount.

The phrase a load off your mind describes the relief you feel when a worry disappears, like when you finally finish a big project you've been anxious about.