reload
UK[ˌriːˈləʊd]US[ˌriːˈloʊd]
v
to put more ammunition into a gun or more film into a camera
v
to put data or a program into a computer's memory again, especially from the internet
v
to fill something again
Morpheme Breakdown
re
load
re
again
load
to put a burden or charge into
Etymology
the word "reload" is a transparent compound formed within english from the productive prefix "re-" and the verb "load". "load" itself has germanic origins, tracing back to the old english lad, which initially denoted a "way" or "journey", a concept linked to carrying. this sense evolved to mean "a burden" carried on such a journey, and by the 15th century, it became the verb for the act of putting that burden onto a vehicle, animal, or later, a weapon. the prefix "re-", borrowed from latin, was fully integrated into english, consistently conveying repetition. therefore, "reload" logically means "to load again", a meaning first applied literally to weapons and later extended metaphorically to digital contexts like computers.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + load (to put a burden or charge into)
- re: a latin prefix meaning "again" or "back".
- load: from old english lad meaning "way, journey, carrying", later evolving to mean "a burden" and the act of putting that burden onto something.
Examples
he paused to reload his rifle during the hunt.
please reload the webpage to see the updated content.
the machine automatically stops so the operator can reload the raw materials.