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burden¹ Definition

bur·den (bʉrd′'n)

noun

  1. anything that is carried; load
  2. anything one has to bear or put up with; heavy load, as of work, duty, responsibility, or sorrow
  3. the carrying of loads a beast of burden
  4. the carrying capacity of a ship

Etymology: ME birthen < OE byrthen, akin to ON byrthr, a load: for IE base see bear

transitive verb

to put a burden on; load; weigh down; oppress

burden² Definition

bur·den (bʉrd′'n)

noun

  1. Archaic a bass accompaniment in music
  2. a chorus or refrain of a song
  3. the drone of a bagpipe
  4. a repeated, central idea; theme the burden of a speech

Etymology: ME burdoun, bass in music, refrain < OFr bourdon, a humming, buzzing < ML burdo, wind instrument, bumblebee; of echoic orig.

burden Synonyms

burden

n.

  1. Something carried

    load, weight, freight, pack; see freight 1, load 1, package 1.

  2. Anything hard to support or endure

    encumbrance, trouble, thorn in the flesh, onus, weary load, heavy load, weight, millstone, albatross around one's neck, cross to bear, impediment, imposition, inconvenience, hardship, trial, strain, responsibility; see also affliction, difficulty 2, duty 2, misfortune 1.

burden Synonyms

burden

v.

weigh down, encumber, cumber, oppress, overwhelm, hinder, hamper, strain, load with, saddle with, task with, handicap, obligate, lade, tax, charge, overtask, afflict, vex, try, trouble, pile, overcharge, overburden, bear down, bog down, crush, depress, impede, overload, overtax, load down with, make heavy; see also force 1, hinder, oppress.

Antonyms lighten*, relieve*, unload.

burden Law Definition

n

  1. A duty, obligation, or responsibility.
  2. Something that causes anxiety or is grievous or oppressive.
  3. In property law, anything that encumbers or restrict the use or value of land, such as an easement, restrictive covenant, or zoning ordinance. The burden indefinitely binds the current and all future owners until it is extinguished, so it is the land, and the landowner, that is burdened by the encumbrance or restriction. See estate.

burden Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • proof: The burden of proof lies with the code sponsor.
  • taxation: The burden of taxation on home owners is now horrendous.
  • guilt: Not only did I have no artifacts: now I had a burden of guilt.
  • debt: These are the students who face enough barriers without the added burden of debt.
  • bureaucracy: We aim to take the burden of bureaucracy from you, along with any worries it can cause.

Converse of object

  • impose: The drought economy has been particularly harsh on women, imposing multiple burdens on them.
  • ease: The study suggests the new penalty would essentially amount to a ticket, easing the burden on the justice system.
  • reduce: Such a move would hugely reduce the burden on external markers, he said.
  • lighten: This could lighten the administrative burden for businesses when accounting for VAT.
  • bear: The burden borne by the people of Northern Ireland is heavier than most people outside the island realize.
  • relieve: Plenty more fish in the sea Increase in fish farming relieves burden on the ocean's resources The aquaculture industry is expanding.

Adjective modifier

  • administrative: The sector should help funders to reduce the administrative burden where possible.
  • regulatory: Ofcom must also: Remove regulatory burdens were possible.
  • unnecessary: This may place unnecessary burdens on the public right.
  • bureaucratic: We will be seeking ways of stripping away bureaucratic burdens on staff.
  • undue: It would also place undue burdens on the smaller members.
  • heavy: Soon these council meetings became a heavy burden to me.

Preposition: on

taxpayer: Yet in his Foreword, the Minister writes of the need to avoid any additional burden on the taxpayer.

Noun used with modifier

  • debt: A debt consolidation loan can reduce your debt burden to a large extent.
  • tax: Tax burden Above all, there's the problem of taxation.