loading

Noun

loading (countable and uncountable, plural loadings)

1. The process by which something is loaded.
   • The loading of hazardous cargoes is not permitted.
2. (countable) A load, especially in the engineering and electrical engineering senses of force exerted, or electrical current or power supplied.
   • I need to recheck the loadings on the external walls.
   • The loading on the generators peaks during the early evening.
3. (Australia, countable, industrial relations) An increased rate of pay given to an employee in order to compensate for specified non-standard working conditions, or a lack of specific other benefits. For example, an employee paid a casual loading is paid more than an equivalent full-time or part-time employee's rate, to compensate for a lack of benefits such as sick leave or annual leave.
   • The position advertised a $40 per hour rate, inclusive of the casual loading.
   • The salary package also included 30% shift loading to compensate for the long hours.
4. A weighting or bias.
   • We may note with some surprise that the hysteria scale has a positive loading on this factor, i.e. is situated towards the normal rather than the neurotic end.2013, H. J. Eysenck, Experiments in Personality, volume 2, page 238