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Glite Dictionary
a load of

a load of

65 1.0
A large number or amount of things
  • determiner
  • Informal
translation icon : un montón de
  • He has a load of work to finish before the deadline.
  • a load of oysters

And apparently he had just bought a load of, you know, coke.

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Examples

  • She bought a load of fresh vegetables from the market.

  • After the party, there was a load of trash to clean up.

  • This looks like a load of ice cream.

  • There are probably people watching this video right now who will be saying what a load of drama about nothing.

  • I just got a load of prints online to start selling.

  • A city family with a load of gear.

    Transit (2012)

  • See, it's only occasionally I will ask you girls to do a load of laundry.

    Working Girls (1987)

  • The cook, carrying a load of plates back into the kitchen.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • All right guys, I found a load of extra pillows in a cupboard over there.

  • I then have a load of makeup brushes, like I have way too many.

Synonyms

truckload
vsa load of
  • US
45 2.9

A very large amount about as much as fills a truck

is the general large-quantity idea not tied to a vehicle
shitload of
vsa load of
  • Offensive
28 9.9

A very large amount of something used in rude speech

is the nonvulgar, moderate expression for a large amount
boatload
vsa load of
  • Informal
18 3.5

A very large amount of something

is broader, meaning many items without the vessel image
heap of
vsa load of
  • Informal
17 1.8

A large pile of things or a large amount

means a large quantity more generally, not necessarily piled
buttload
vsa load of
  • Offensive
5 8.5

A very large amount of something said jokingly

is the straightforward way to say a large quantity without humor
crapload
vsa load of
  • NSFW
3 9.1

A very large amount of something

gives the same large quantity idea in neutral language
cartload
vsa load of
  • Informal
2 3.5

An amount that fills a cart, often meaning a very large quantity

is the broader phrase for many items without that image
fuckload of
vsa load of
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A very large amount of something used in rude, informal speech

expresses the same largeness but in neutral, nonvulgar form
loads
vsa load of
  • Informal
1 1.0

A large number or amount of something

is the simple, general way to say a large quantity
tons
vsa load of
  • Informal
1 2.1

A very large amount of something, often many people or things

says the same idea but without the strong informal emphasis
wagonload
vsa load of
  • Informal
1 4.5

A very large amount, like enough to fill a wagon

is the general large-quantity term without the wagon picture
shedload of
vsa load of
  • UK
9.2

A very large amount of something you have or get

is a milder expression for a large quantity without exaggeration

Antonyms

few
∞ 1.0

A small number of people or things

little
1 1.0

A very small amount or short time

How Much

tons
  • Informal
1 2.1
a load of
  • Informal
65 1.0
some
∞ 1.0
a little
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

a load of singular

Morphology

a + loads + of

The meaning 'a large quantity' is directly derivable from the parts: 'load' (a significant amount) combined with the determiner 'a' and the preposition 'of' to mark the quantity. This is a regular compositional noun-phrase construction (cf. 'loads of', 'a lot of') common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

A load of comes from the word load, meaning a heavy pile put on a cart or truck. Seeing a cart piled high gave the clear image of a large amount, so a load of now means 'a lot of'.