payload

[ pey-lohd ]

/ ˈpeɪˌloʊd /

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noun

the part of a cargo producing revenue or income, usually expressed in weight.

the number of paying passengers, as on an airplane.

Aerospace, Military.

the bomb load, warhead, cargo, or passengers of an aircraft, a rocket, missile, etc., for delivery at a target or destination.
the total complement of equipment carried by a spacecraft for the performance of a particular mission in space.
the explosive energy of the warhead of a missile or of the bombload of an aircraft: a payload of 50 megatons.

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Origin of payload

First recorded in 1925–30; pay¹ + load

Words nearby payload

payer, pay for, pay grade, pay-in, paying guest, payload, payload assist module, payloader, payload specialist, paymaster, payment

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use payload in a sentence

Firefly's "Blue Ghost" lunar lander will deliver the payloads to the lunar surface in 2023 in fulfillment of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services task order, the company said.
Rocket Report: Iran debuts new booster, SpaceX to launch Lunar Gateway|Eric Berger|February 12, 2021|Ars Technica
The third party then responds with a much larger payload to the site the attackers want to take down.
DDoSers are abusing the Plex Media Server to make attacks more potent|Dan Goodin|February 5, 2021|Ars Technica
Speaking of satellites, we’re poised to see Blue Origin launching a lot more of its own payloads into orbit once New Glenn can fly.
Blue Origin could definitely use more Jeff Bezos in the next decade|Neel Patel|February 4, 2021|MIT Technology Review
Astra offers launch services of payloads ranging from 50 to 150 kilograms or as much as 330 pounds, and expects to begin deliveries into space by the end of the year.
Rocket startup Astra to go public in race for commercial space|Hamza Shaban|February 2, 2021|Washington Post

It’s a single-stage prototype, which can only carry 18 lbs of payload, and it’s designed to achieve suborbital space.
bluShift Aerospace launches its first rocket powered by biofuels|Darrell Etherington|February 1, 2021|TechCrunch
There is, of course, cheapness to be considered -- the dollar per kilogram bill for putting a payload into low earth orbit.
Up to a Point: A 'Space Corvette' in Every Garage|P. J. O’Rourke|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Delta IV can carry a larger payload into low earth orbit than the Atlas V, 60,779 lbs.
Why Does the USA Depend on Russian Rockets to Get Us Into Space?|P. J. O’Rourke|June 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The X-37B has a payload bay about the size of a pickup truck bed.
Will The Pentagon’s Secret Space Plane Ever Return to Earth?|Kyle Mizokami|April 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Gripen was designed as a small aircraft with a relatively large payload.
The Planet’s Best Stealth Fighter Isn’t Made in America|Bill Sweetman|March 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then I just have to “retrieve payload” from Coinapult, trot on back over to Blockchain and BAM!
My Bitcoin (Mis)adventure|Winston Ross|April 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But if they improve the rockets, manage to make room for a bigger payload, wouldn't it be cheaper?
This Crowded Earth|Robert Bloch
And I have only about twice the fuel supply you carry for a 100-ton payload.
Atom Drive|Charles Louis Fontenay
But his hand moved over his pad and he made an impatient go-on gesture with his head, swallowing some of his payload.
Makers|Cory Doctorow
But those landing rockets and Lieutenant Commander Brown constituted all its payload.
Space Tug|Murray Leinster
On the last payload trip of the Towle the pilot asked me if I wanted to go along, and of course I was delighted.
The First Airplane Diesel Engine: Packard Model DR-980 of 1928|Robert B. Meyer

British Dictionary definitions for payload

payload

/ (ˈpeɪˌləʊd) /

noun

that part of a cargo earning revenue

the passengers, cargo, or bombs carried by an aircraft
the equipment carried by a rocket, satellite, or spacecraft

the explosive power of a warhead, bomb, etc, carried by a missile or aircrafta missile carrying a 50-megaton payload

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

payload

Origin of payload

Words nearby payload

Words related to payload

How to use payload in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for payload