burden

[bur-dn]

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noun

that which is carried; load: a horse's burden of rider and pack.

that which is borne with difficulty; obligation; onus: the burden of leadership.

Nautical.

the weight of a ship's cargo.
the carrying capacity of a ship.

Mining. overburden(def 3).

Metallurgy. the minerals charged into a blast furnace or steelmaking furnace.

Accounting. overhead(def 6).

verb (used with object)

to load heavily.

to load oppressively; trouble.

Origin of burden

before 1000; Middle English, variant of burthen, Old English byrthen; akin to German Bürde, Gothic baurthei; see bear¹

Related formsbur·den·er, nounbur·den·less, adjective

Synonyms for burden

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2. weight, encumbrance, impediment. 8. weigh down, saddle, try, afflict, perturb, plague, grieve, vex.

Synonym study

1. See load.

burden

[bur-dn]

noun

the main point, message, or idea.

Music. the refrain or recurring chorus of a song.

Origin of burden

1275–1325; Middle English bordoun, burdoun < Old French bourdon droning sound, instrument making such a sound

Synonyms for burden

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1. substance, core, crux, nucleus, essence.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for burden

load, duty, onus, hardship, strain, tax, difficulty, task, responsibility, trouble, anxiety, worry, concern, hinder, depress, afflict, overwhelm, bother, overload, oppress

Examples from the Web for burden

Contemporary Examples of burden

“If Charleston harbor needs improvement, let the commerce of Charleston bear the burden,” he said.
Steve Scalise Shows There’s a Fine Line Between Confederate & Southern
Lloyd Green
January 2, 2015
“There are indications that decriminalization can reduce the burden on criminal justice systems,” the report said.
Britain Admits Anti-Drug Laws Are Useless
Nico Hines
October 30, 2014
Why do so many put the burden of speaking to race issues on Cosby?
A Full-Length Bill Cosby Portrait: From Track Star to Ugly Sweaters
Scott Porch
September 24, 2014
While women are often better informed about their health, that means they bear the burden of broaching the topic of HPV.
The Silent Shame of HPV
Emily Shire
August 29, 2014
Parents who bring wrongful birth suits seem to face a burden faced by no other plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases.
Parents Sue for 'Wrongful Birth'
Elizabeth Picciuto
August 17, 2014

Historical Examples of burden

All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the burden.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
I am weary of the earth-damps; they burden me; they choke me!
Other Tales and Sketches
Nathaniel Hawthorne
She would cast her burden on Him, for she knew He cared for her.
Life in London
Edwin Hodder
The burden was hard to bear, yet I prayed for strength to bear it.
Biography of a Slave
Charles Thompson
Sin brings its punishment, and it is hard work, bearing its burden!
Life in London
Edwin Hodder

British Dictionary definitions for burden

burden

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

burden

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for burden

n.1

"a load," Old English byrðen "a load, weight, charge, duty;" also "a child;" from Proto-Germanic *burthinjo- "that which is borne" (cf. Old Norse byrðr, Old Saxon burthinnia, German bürde, Gothic baurþei), from PIE root *bher- (1) "to bear, to carry; give birth" (see infer).

The shift from -th- to -d- took place beginning 12c. (cf. murder). Archaic burthen is occasionally retained for the specific sense of "capacity of a ship." Burden of proof is recorded from 1590s.

n.2

"leading idea," 1640s, a figurative use from earlier sense "refrain or chorus of a song," 1590s, originally "bass accompaniment to music" (late 14c.), from Old French bordon "bumble-bee, drone," or directly from Medieval Latin burdonom "drone, drone bass" (source of French bourdon, Spanish bordon, Portuguese bordão, Italian bordone), of echoic origin.