▪ I. carbo-load, n. and a. colloq. (chiefly U.S.).
Brit. /ˈkɑːbəʊˌləʊd/, U.S. /ˈkɑrboʊˌloʊd/
[‹ carbo n. + load n., after carbo-loading n.]
A. n. A meal or snack high in carbohydrates, usually eaten with the intention of increasing energy levels; (Athletics) such a meal eaten with other competitors the day before an athletic event. Cf. carbohydrate loading n. at carbohydrate n. Compounds 3.
| 1982 Washington Post 23 June dc8/1 Half-price pizza nights, when..the long dining-hall-style tables fill up with..others out for a cheap carbo load. 1987 Chicago Tribune (Nexis) 16 Dec. c2 We just know that people who attended the carbo-load got sick. 2004 K. W. Keltner Dim Sum of all Things 184 She was drowsy from her carbo load. |
B. adj. (attrib.). Designating a meal or snack of this type; involving such a meal.
| 1986 Arkansas Gaz. 4 Apr. b1/4 Don Kardong will be featured speaker at 7 p.m. today at the Little Rock Pepsi 10K prerace carbo-load dinner. 1992 Sports Illustr. 16 Nov. 78/1 My oxygen debt has been drastically reduced since I started doing carbo-load intervals. 2004 Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News (Nexis) 15 June b2 The Anchorage Museum of History and Art is hosting a pre-race carbo-load pasta dinner Friday. |
▪ II. carbo-load, v. colloq. (orig. U.S.).
Brit. /ˈkɑːbəʊˌləʊd/, U.S. /ˈkɑrboʊˌloʊd/
[‹ carbo n. + load v., after carbo-loading n., carbo-load n.]
intr. To practise carbo-loading (Athletics); (gen.) to eat food high in carbohydrates.
| 1983 Washington Post 6 Nov. h4 He carbo-loads on a special dish of potato skins and wild rice. 1991 Ladies' Home Jrnl. Oct. 194/2 Runners ‘carbo-load’—eat a big plate of spaghetti the night before a race. 1995 J. F. Garner Once upon more Enlightened Time 44 For his part, the tortoise prepared by carbo-loading and watching training films. 2002 Hotdog Feb. 29/3 (caption) Breakfast of junkies: Iris carboloads on toast with jam and sugar. |