# loading

/ˈɫoʊdɪŋ/ (US) · /lˈəʊdɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/loading
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. computer processing

noun · CEFR B1

the time a computer takes to prepare a website, game, or file so you can see it.

For teachers: the period during which a computer system transfers data into its active memory for execution.

- I hate it when the loading screen takes forever while I am playing a game.
- The developer optimised the assets to reduce loading times, ensuring a smoother experience for users with slower internet connections.

### 3. physical or electrical force

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the amount of weight or pressure put on a structure, or the amount of electricity used.

For teachers: the application of a mechanical force to a structure or the electrical power drawn from a circuit.

- Engineers checked the loading on the bridge to make sure it was safe for heavy trucks.
- The structural integrity of the airframe was tested under extreme loading conditions to simulate severe atmospheric turbulence.

### 4. extra pay

noun · CEFR C1 · Dialect

extra money added to a person's basic pay, often to cover the lack of benefits like sick leave.

For teachers: an additional payment or higher hourly rate added to a base salary, typically to compensate for casual status or difficult working conditions.

- As a casual worker, she receives a loading on her hourly rate instead of paid holidays.
- The union negotiated a fifteen percent loading for employees required to work irregular shifts during the holiday season.

Usage: Commonly used in Australian English in the context of 'casual loading'.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to certain regions, particularly Australia; learners in the US or UK may not encounter it in daily life.

## Examples

- The loading of the truck takes about an hour.
- The website is slow today, and the loading of the images is taking forever.
- Efficient loading of the cargo ship is essential to maintain the vessel's balance and ensure a safe passage across the ocean.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.