laden

UK: /ˈleɪd^ən/ US: /ˈleɪdən/ ,(lād′n)

From the verb lade: (⇒ conjugate)

laden is: ⓘ

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

lad•en /ˈleɪdən/   adj. [usually: be + ~ + with + object]

1. burdened;
   heavily loaded:
   vines laden with grapes.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

lad•en  (lād′n), adj. 

1. burdened;
   loaded down.

v.t. 

2. to lade.

• lade + -en³, -en¹ 1585–95

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

laden / ˈleɪd^ən/ verb

1. a past participle of lade1

adjective

1. weighed down with a load; loaded
2. encumbered; burdened

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

lade  (lād), v., lad•ed, lad•en or lad•ed, lad•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to put (something) on or in, as a burden, load, or cargo;
   load.
2. to load oppressively;
   burden (used chiefly in the passive):
   laden with many responsibilities.
3. to fill or cover abundantly (used chiefly in the passive):
   trees laden with fruit; a man laden with honors.
4. to lift or throw in or out, as a fluid, with a ladle or other utensil.

v.i. 

5. to take on a load.
6. to lade a liquid.

• bef. 900; Middle English laden, Old English hladan to load, draw up (water); cognate with Dutch laden, German laden, Old Norse hlatha to load. Cf. ladle

lad′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lade / leɪd/ verb (lades, lading, laded, laden / ˈleɪd^ən/, laded)

1. to put cargo or freight on board (a ship, etc) or (of a ship, etc) to take on cargo or freight
2. (tr; usually passive) and followed by with: to burden or oppress
3. (tr; usually passive) and followed by with: to fill or load
4. to remove (liquid) with or as if with a ladle

Etymology: Old English hladen to load; related to Dutch laden