Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Jump to:
  • burke
    burke
    verb (used with object)
    to murder, as by suffocation, so as to leave no or few marks of violence.
  • Burke
    Burke
    noun
    Billie Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke, 1886–1970, U.S. actress.
Synonyms

burke

1 American  
[burk] / bɜrk /

verb (used with object)

burked, burking
  1. to murder, as by suffocation, so as to leave no or few marks of violence.

  2. to suppress or get rid of by some indirect maneuver.


Burke 2 American  
[burk] / bɜrk /

noun

  1. Billie Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke, 1886–1970, U.S. actress.

  2. Edmund, 1729–97, Irish statesman, orator, and writer.

  3. Kenneth Duva 1897–1993, U.S. literary critic.


Burke 1 British  
/ bɜːk /

noun

  1. Edmund . 1729–97, British Whig statesman, conservative political theorist, and orator, born in Ireland: defended parliamentary government and campaigned for a more liberal treatment of the American colonies; denounced the French Revolution

  2. Robert O'Hara . 1820–61, Irish explorer, who led the first expedition (1860–61) across Australia from south to north. He was accompanied by W. J. Wills, George Grey, and John King; King alone survived the return journey

  3. William . 1792–1829, Irish murderer and body snatcher; associate of William Hare

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

burke 2 British  
/ bɜːk /

verb

  1. to murder in such a way as to leave no marks on the body, usually by suffocation

  2. to get rid of, silence, or suppress

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of burke

After W. Burke, hanged in 1829 in Edinburgh for murders of this kind

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He cited Brock Burke, a waiver claim who gave the Angels two solid seasons in middle relief.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he received an alert Wednesday morning when the group's travel booking was made.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

The government had been preparing for the group's return since 2014, Burke said, with "long-standing plans" to "manage and monitor them".

From BBC • May 5, 2026

When he was a teen, Burke posted videos on YouTube of himself playing the game and later created its first official anthem.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

“Billy Martin was the manager of the Oakland A’s when Glenn Burke played for them,” I say.

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner