Loader

'loʊdər

nounBeginner📊CommonTechnology
2 meanings3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A person or thing that loads something, especially machinery used for moving materials or goods.

'loʊdər

nounneutralBeginner
Technology

A person or machine that puts things into a container or vehicle.

The loader quickly filled the truck with sand.

💡 Simply: Imagine a giant scooper at a construction site, or the person putting boxes onto a truck. That's a loader!

👶 For kids: A loader is something or someone that puts things into a truck or a big pile.

More Examples

2

The factory uses automated loaders to package products.

3

The loader on the ship efficiently transferred the containers.

How It's Used

Construction

"The construction crew used a front-end loader to move the gravel."

Transportation

"The dock workers are responsible for the cargo loaders at the shipping port."

2

A program or routine designed to load data, software, or other components into a computer's memory for execution or use.

'loʊdər

nounneutralmedium
Technology

A program or routine that loads data or software into a computer's memory.

The operating system's loader is responsible for the initial startup process.

💡 Simply: It's like the program that gets a game or app ready to play on your phone or computer.

👶 For kids: A loader is like a helper program that puts the game or app in the computer so you can play!

More Examples

2

The compiler generates code that is then loaded by the linker and loader.

3

Different types of loaders exist to handle different types of data files.

How It's Used

Computer Science

"The boot loader is essential for starting the operating system."

Software Development

"A module loader is used to manage dependencies in the application."

Tip:Think of a program 'loading' software.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

From Middle English *loadere*, derived from the verb 'load' and the suffix '-er' indicating an agent or thing that performs the action.

The term 'loader' has been in use since the 17th century, initially referring to someone or something that loaded goods, and later also used in a computing context from the mid-20th century.

Memory tip

Think of a person or machine doing the action of 'loading'.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"The action of putting things into a container or vehicle; to burden or fill."

front-end loaderboot loadermodule loadercargo loader

Common misspellings

loderloarder

Usage

45%Spoken
55%Written