burden

¹

[bur-dn]

noun

1. that which is carried; load.

   a horse's burden of rider and pack.

2. that which is borne with difficulty; obligation; onus.

   the burden of leadership.

   Synonyms: impediment, encumbrance, weight

3. Nautical.

   1. the weight of a ship's cargo.

   2. the carrying capacity of a ship.

4. Mining.,  overburden.

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

6. Accounting.,  overhead.

verb (used with object)

1. to load heavily.

2. to load oppressively; trouble.

   Synonyms: vex, grieve, plague, perturb, afflict, try, saddle, weigh down

burden

²

[bur-dn]

noun

1. the main point, message, or idea.

   Synonyms: essence, nucleus, crux, core, substance, gist

2. Music.,  the refrain or recurring chorus of a song.

burden

¹

/ ˈbɜːdən /

noun

1. something that is carried; load

2. something that is exacting, oppressive, or difficult to bear

   the burden of responsibility

3. nautical

   1. the cargo capacity of a ship

   2. the weight of a ship's cargo

verb

1. (sometimes foll by up) to put or impose a burden on; load

2. to weigh down; oppress

   the old woman was burdened with cares

burden

²

/ ˈbɜːdən /

noun

1. a line of words recurring at the end of each verse of a ballad or similar song; chorus or refrain

2. the principal or recurrent theme of a speech, book, etc

3. another word for bourdon

Other Word Forms

• burdener noun
• burdenless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of burden¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, birthen, birden, Old English byrthen; akin to German Bürde, Gothic baurthei; bear ¹

Origin of burden²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bordoun, burdoun “drone, bass,” from Old French bourdon “droning sound, instrument making such a sound”

Word History and Origins

Origin of burden¹

Old English byrthen ; related to beran to _bear ¹ , Old Frisian berthene burden, Old High German burdin

Origin of burden²

C16: from Old French bourdon bass horn, droning sound, of imitative origin

Synonym Study

See load.

Example Sentences

Moreover, the type of imports that have disproportionately borne the burden of tariffs so far this year, such as imports from China, tend to be lower-priced goods, he added.

From BBC

The regulator's current leadership, including chair Paul Atkins, has been critical of disclosures that companies consider to be a burden.

From BBC

This would involve the government subsidising workers' pay packets while they are unable to do their jobs, taking the burden off their employers.

From BBC

He says the extra pounds have been more blessing than burden.

From BBC

Another burden is the weight of the company’s debt.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anxiety 
• concern 
• difficulty 
• duty 
• hardship 
• load 
• onus 
• responsibility 
• strain 
• task 
• tax 
• trouble 
• worry