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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.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

law burden definition - legal

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

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.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

burden Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • proof: The burden of proof lies with the code sponsor.

Converse of object

  • impose: The drought economy has been particularly harsh on women, imposing multiple burdens on them.

Adjective modifier

  • administrative: The sector should help funders to reduce the administrative burden where possible.

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.
burden usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

burden quotes

   With aching hands and bleeding feet We dig and heap, lay stone on stone; We bear the burden and the heat Of the long day, and wish 'twere done. Not till the hours of light return, All we have built do we discern.

-Arnold, Matthew

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and Iwill give you rest.Takemy yokeuponyou, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

-Bible (NewTestament)

The day must come when the nation's whole scale of living must be reduced. If that day comes,Parliament must lay the burden equally on all classes.

-Churchill, Lord Randolph Henry Spencer

burden quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"burden." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/burden>

APA Style

burden. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/burden

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