burial

American  

[ber-ee-uhl] / ˈbɛr i əl /

noun

1. the act or ceremony of burying.

2. the place of burying; grave.

---

burial British  

/ ˈbɛrɪəl /

noun

1. the act of burying, esp the interment of a dead body

---

Other Word Forms

• reburial noun

Etymology

Origin of burial

First recorded in 1200–50; bury + -al ²; replacing Middle English buriel, back formation from Old English byrgels “burial place,” from byrg(an) “to bury” + -els(e), noun suffix ( riddle ¹ )

Example Sentences

Thousands turned out on Friday for the burial of the slain son of former Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi in a town that still holds allegiance to the late longtime leader.

From Barron's

Going up a hill "up to the sky" surrounded by beautiful views will be a good contrast to the pain of a burial, he believes, giving "that sense of spiritual uplift".

From BBC

“He did not call the police, did not give Mr. Wilding the dignity of a proper burial, which he was entitled to as a human being,” Frimpong said.

From Los Angeles Times

At the burial he sprinkled earth on the coffin, and I felt as though he were leaving a part of his own life force in the grave.

From Literature

The storied 478-acre Brooklyn burial ground, like many across the U.S., is running out of room for new occupants.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• funeral
• interment