The AI-powered English dictionary
plural loaders
Agent noun of load; a person or device that loads. quotations examples
A loader performs the important work of storing goods in the wagons and of unloading the wagons. In each case considerable skill is required to avoid breakage, and, in the case of loading, skill goes far to conserve wagon space.
1944 March and April, T. F. Cameron, “The Working of Marshalling Yards and Goods Sheds”, in Railway Magazine, page 85
The loader […] placed the cartridge in the muzzle and shoved it in as far as he could. The rammer rammed it home, the gun captain inserting his priming wire to make sure.
2014, Benerson Little, The Sea Rover's Practice
(computing) A program that prepares other programs for execution. examples
A tractor with a scoop, for example: front-end loader, front loader, endloader, payloader, bucket loader, wheel loader, etc. examples
(marketing) An incentive given to a dealer. quotations examples
Unique point-of-purchase materials and display loaders dramatically contribute to the display's attention-getting ability.
1990, Robert B. Konikow, Sales Promotion Design, page 197
Marketers use dealer loaders to obtain new distributors and push larger quantities of goods.
1995, William M. Pride, O. C. Ferrell, Marketing: Concepts and Strategies, page 591
Dealer (or buying) loaders are gifts offered to resellers for stocking products. Many companies specialize in providing premium and gift items, and publish catalogues from which you can select appropriate items.
2001, Stuart Clark Rogers, Marketing Strategies, Tactics, and Techniques, page 172
plural pasts
The period of time that has already happened, in contrast to the present and the future. quotations examples
The past, at least, is secure.
1830, Daniel Webster, a speech
The present is only intelligible in the light of the past, often a very remote past indeed.
1860, Richard Chenevix Trench, On the English Language, Past and Present
The Mesozoic landscape of southeastern Utah can tell us much about the past, and it's one of the most intriguing and beautiful landscapes on Earth.
2012, Chinle Miller, In Mesozoic Lands: The Mesozoic Geology of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Kindle edition
(grammar) The past tense. examples
comparative more past, superlative most past
Having already happened; in the past; finished. quotations examples
The highway to the East Coast which ran through the borough of Ebbfield had always been a main road and even now, despite the vast garages, the pylons and the gaily painted factory glasshouses which had sprung up beside it, there still remained an occasional trace of past cultures.
1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 7, in The China Governess
(postmodifier) Following expressions of time to indicate how long ago something happened; ago. quotations examples
That had been, what, three years past?
1999, George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings, Bantam, published 2011, page 538
Some four decades past, as a boy, I had a chance encounter and conversation with the late W.A. Poucher [...].
2009, John Sadler, Glencoe, Amberley, published 2009, page 20
Of a period of time: having just gone by; previous. quotations examples
Sarkozy's total will be seen as a personal failure. It is the first time an outgoing president has failed to win a first-round vote in the past 50 years and makes it harder for Sarkozy to regain momentum.
2012 April 23, Angelique Chrisafis, “François Hollande on top but far right scores record result in French election”, in The Guardian
(grammar) Of a tense, expressing action that has already happened or a previously-existing state. examples
In a direction that passes. examples
Beyond in place or quantity examples
(time) Any number of minutes after the last hour quotations examples
But they were stunned when Glen Johnson's error let in Peter Odemwingie to fire past Pepe Reina on 75 minutes.
2012 April 22, Sam Sheringham, “Liverpool 0-1 West Brom”, in BBC Sport
No longer capable of. examples
Having recovered or moved on from (a traumatic experience, etc.). examples
Passing by, especially without stopping or being delayed. examples
(obsolete) simple past and past participle of pass quotations
Great Tuscane dames, as she their towns past by, / Wisht her their daughter-in-law, but frustrately.
1632, John Vicars, The XII Aeneids of Virgil