Standard Lemma guide

shipload

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈʃɪpˌloʊd/
  • CMU ARPABET: SH IH1 P L OW2 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The amount (of cargo) that a ship can carry.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Minced oath of shitload.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the amount of cargo that can be held by a boat or ship or a freight car

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he imported wine by the boatload

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: boatload, carload

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: large indefinite quantity, large indefinite amount

History

Etymology

From ship + load.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: scheepsvracht — amount of cargo
  • Finnish: laivalastillinen — amount of cargo