burden
1[ bur-dn ]
/ ˈbɜr dn /
noun
verb (used with object)
to load heavily.
to load oppressively; trouble.
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RELATED WORDS
load, duty, onus, hardship, strain, tax, difficulty, task, responsibility, trouble, anxiety, worry, concern, hinder, depress, afflict, overwhelm, bother, overload, oppress
Nearby words
- burbot,
- burchfield,
- burchfield, charles,
- burckhardt,
- burd,
- burden of proof,
- burdened,
- burdensome,
- burdizzo,
- burdock
Origin of burden
1before 1000; Middle English, variant of burthen, Old English byrthen; akin to German Bürde, Gothic baurthei; see bear1
SYNONYMS FOR burden
2. weight, encumbrance, impediment. 8. weigh down, saddle, try, afflict, perturb, plague, grieve, vex.
Synonym study
1. See load.
burden
2[ bur-dn ]
/ ˈbɜr dn /
noun
the main point, message, or idea.
Music. the refrain or recurring chorus of a song.
Origin of burden
21275–1325; Middle English bordoun, burdoun < Old French bourdon droning sound, instrument making such a sound
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for burden
burden
1/ (ˈbɜːdən) /
noun
something that is carried; load
something that is exacting, oppressive, or difficult to bearthe burden of responsibility Related adjective: onerous
nautical
- the cargo capacity of a ship
- the weight of a ship's cargo
verb (tr)
(sometimes foll by up) to put or impose a burden on; load
to weigh down; oppressthe old woman was burdened with cares
Word Origin for burden
Old English byrthen; related to beran to bear 1, Old Frisian berthene burden, Old High German burdin
noun
a line of words recurring at the end of each verse of a ballad or similar song; chorus or refrain
the principal or recurrent theme of a speech, book, etc
another word for bourdon
Word Origin for burden
C16: from Old French bourdon bass horn, droning sound, of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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