The term 'lightens the load' can be summarized by the word 'eases'. This term is often used to describe a situation in which a burden or difficulty is made easier or more manageable. It is often used in the context of work, where a task that was once difficult or time-consuming is made easier or faster. It can also be used to describe a situation in which a person's emotional or mental burden is made lighter. In either case, the term 'lightens the load' implies that something has been done to make a situation more bearable.