Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To remove the load or cargo from.
  • intransitive verb To discharge (cargo or a load).
  • intransitive verb To relieve of something burdensome or oppressive; unburden.
  • intransitive verb To give expression to (one's troubles or feelings); pour forth.
  • intransitive verb To remove the charge from (a firearm).
  • intransitive verb To dispose of, especially by selling in great quantity; dump.
  • intransitive verb To discharge a cargo or some other burden.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To take the load from; discharge of a load or cargo; disburden: as, to unload a ship; to unload a cart.
  • To remove, as a cargo or burden, from a vessel, vehicle, or the like; discharge: as, to unload freight.
  • Figuratively, to relieve from anything onerous or troublesome; remove and cause to cease to be burdensome.
  • To withdraw the charge, as of powder and shot or ball, from: as, to unload a gun.
  • To sell in large quantities, as stock; get rid of: as, to unload shares of the A and B railway.
  • To go through the process of unloading; discharge a cargo.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb To perform the act of unloading anything.
  • transitive verb To take the load from; to discharge of a load or cargo; to disburden.
  • transitive verb Hence, to relieve from anything onerous.
  • transitive verb To discharge or remove, as a load or a burden.
  • transitive verb To draw the charge from.
  • transitive verb Brokers' Cant, U. S. To sell in large quantities, as stock; to get rid of.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive To remove the load or cargo from (a vehicle, etc.).
  • verb intransitive To deposit one's load or cargo.
  • verb transitive, intransitive, figuratively To give vent to or express.
  • verb transitive, computing To remove (something previously loaded) from memory.
  • verb transitive To discharge or pour a liquid.
  • verb transitive To get rid of or dispose of.
  • verb transitive To deliver forcefully.
  • verb transitive, slang To ejaculate, particularly within an orifice

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb leave or unload
  • verb take the load off (a container or vehicle)

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From un- +‎ load.

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