Definition of load-bearing in US English:
 load-bearing
adjectiveˈlōdˌberiNGˈloʊdˌbɛrɪŋ
1(especially of a wall) supporting much of the weight of the overlying parts of a building or other structure.
 Example sentencesExamples
-  The Hippodrome structure consists of load-bearing exterior brick masonry walls with interior steel columns and beams.
 -  The building structure consists of precast coreslab floors and roof, supported on load-bearing masonry walls or steel frame.
 -  Recycled-plastic lumber is not strong enough to use for structural members, such as load-bearing walls, deck frames or floor joists, so you'll need to use traditional wood for those areas.
 -  And just as importantly to masonry contractors, designers will be specifying more of their load-bearing walls as grouted and reinforced.
 -  The exterior of the Oklahoma City Federal Building is a load-bearing wall that enables forces to arch over any damaged portions while the wall resists lateral and gravity loads.
 
- 1.1 Relating to the carrying of a load.
 the road's load-bearing capacity
 Example sentencesExamples
-  In addition, studies at the University of Alaska suggest that a warming of the permafrost by only 3 [degrees] C decreases its load-bearing capacity by up to 70 per cent.
 -  By trial and error they came to understand the load-bearing capacity and strength limitations of limestone, and so they knew when it was necessary to use a stronger material, such as granite.
 -  Her eyes widen, then glaze over and then, in what I can only describe as a calm and measured frenzy, she proceeds to test the load-bearing capacity of a standard issue shopping trolley.
 -  In the absence of a ground plan with scale, it's impossible to accept this contention, specially because the substantive questions of proper alignment of pillar bases and their load-bearing capacity remain unresolved.
 -  The ‘spoked tip’ vastly increases load-bearing capacity of the tip panel without increasing weight.