load bearing

alternative load-bearing

1. not comparablebusinessAble to support a load.

   1953 O. T. (Oswald Theodore) Zimmerman, Irvin Lavine, Industrial Research Service's Handbook of Material Trade Names It […] is characterised by […] excellent load bearing characteristics at elevated temperatures.

   2 more examples

   1906: American Railway Development Association, Proceedings of Meeting, American Railway Industrial Association, Railway Industrial Association Too many otherwise suitable sites may be found to have sink holes, cavities, or poor load bearing qualities.

   They are also one-hour fire rated on load bearing interior and exterior walls.

   2006, Blaine Erickson Brownell, Transmaterial: A Catalog of Materials That Redefine Our Physical Environment

2. figurativelynot comparableEssential (for the functioning of something).

   The hasty cut of the workforce also eliminated some jobs that were absolutely load bearing.

3. not comparableRoutinely requiring the physical carrying of heavy loads.