live load

noun

: the load to which a structure is subjected in addition to its own weight

Examples of live load in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Validate that the failover works under live load, not in a clean lab. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 According to a recent release, steel parts known as live load shoes support the drawbridge leaves while in the down position. Rosemarie Stein, OregonLive.com, 3 Nov. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of live load was in 1858

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Cite this Entry

“Live load.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live%20load. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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