Dictionary

load-bearing en · ADJ

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Able to support a load.
   • The reactor units each called for a circular pit over 300ft. in diameter, excavated to a depth of 20ft. to reach a suitable load-bearing stratum. 1958, Australian Atomic Energy Commission, Australian Atomic Energy Symposium, 1958: Proceedings of a Symposium on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in Australia:
   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:load-bearing.
   • It was in baptism (and in consequence in penance) that the theologically most load-bearing aspects of the liturgical life of the Church were concentrated. 2004, G. R. Evans, The First Christian Theologians, an Introduction to Theology in the Early Church:
   • 1908, Frederick E. Turneaure, Editor-in-Chief, Cyclopedia of Civil Engineering The different forms of partitions that are not load-bearing will be considered under "Fireproofing."
   • Alternating sandstone and limestone (the limestone being used in façades exposed to the winter rains or in more load-bearing areas) created a most pleasing decorative effect. 2001, Akram F. Khater, Inventing Home: Emigration, Gender, and the Middle Class in Lebanon, 1870-1920:
2. (figuratively, not-comparable) Of a physical, digital, procedural etc. component, necessary to the integrity of the system of which it forms a part.
   • The number keeps going up, which has a buoying effect on markets that is, in the short term, good. But every good earnings report further entrenches Nvidia as a precariously placed, load-bearing piece of the global economy. 2025 October 30, Matteo Wong, Charlie Warzel, “Here’s How the AI Crash Happens”, in The Atlantic:

Forms

Translations (8)

es de carga (able to support a load) · es aguantacargas (able to support a load) · mk носечки (able to support a load) · es portacargas (able to support a load) · es de soporte (able to support a load) · es sostenedor (able to support a load) · ka მზიდი (able to support a load) · fi kantava (able to support a load)

load-bearing en · NOUN

Meanings

1. (uncountable) The carrying of loads.
   • A common degenerative joint disease that involves synovial joints only with recurrent or abnormal load-bearing on normal cartilage or normal load-bearing on weakened cartilage, or both. 2006, David Lowe, Surgical Pathology Revision:
   • The porters, who stand in knots with cords upon their shoulders, bear huge loads; a characteristic of the place is this load-bearing and the size of the burdens. 1904, Morley Roberts, A Tramp's Note-book:
   • 1955, National Research Council (U.S.) Building Research Institute, Modular Measure: The Edited Papers and Discussions of a Research Correlation Conference Entitled Modular Coordination: Its Value in Contemporary Building, Conducted by the Building Research Institute Since we do not need walls for load-bearing, the storage walls do not have to have any special thickness.

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