loading
Americannoun
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the act of a person or thing that loads.
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that with which something is loaded, burden, or charge.
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Electricity. the process of adding reactance to a telephone circuit, radio antenna, etc.
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Aeronautics. the ratio of the gross weight of an airplane to engine power power loading, wing span span loading, or wing area wing loading.
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Insurance. an addition to the net premium, to cover expenses and allow a margin for contingencies and profit.
noun
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a load or burden; weight
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the addition of an inductance to electrical equipment, such as a transmission line or aerial, to improve its performance See loading coil
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an addition to an insurance premium to cover expenses, provide a safer profit margin, etc
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the ratio of the gross weight of an aircraft to its engine power ( power loading ), wing area ( wing loading ), or some other parameter, or of the gross weight of a helicopter to its rotor disc area ( disc loading )
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psychol the correlation of a factor, such as a personality trait, with a performance score derived from a psychological test
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material, such as china clay or size, added to paper, textiles, or similar materials to produce a smooth surface, increase weight, etc
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a payment made in addition to a basic wage or salary to reward special skills, compensate for unfavourable conditions, etc
Etymology
Origin of loading
late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at load, -ing 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Stocks jumped on Thursday, with investors loading back up on tech shares following a brutal two-session selloff, after President Donald Trump said he no longer plans to strike Iran tonight.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
Including two very large crude carrier cargoes currently loading in the Gulf of Oman, total observed flows are at least 100 million barrels, “aligning with Trump’s statement,” Smith said.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026
On Friday, agents observed a man loading heavy items into a van outside the store and then driving to a nearby mechanic’s shop.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026
The Nora docks at Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export and loading hub.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
A porter called out, “Ha, this place is for loading, oh! Loading only!”
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
