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

Despite being one of the first few countries to start trade negotiations with Washington, India has so far failed to secure a deal that would ease its 50 percent tariff burden.

Read more on Barron's

Ms. Keaton’s Kay, an outsider to the Corleone family, carries the burden of being the films’ sole moral voice, the only one who rejects the Mafia’s twisted and bloody codes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But individuals who can afford to pay for their own lawyer face a substantial financial burden for attorney services and court fees.

Read more on Salon

"Stop this burden on Hillingdon taxpayers. The bank account is running dry."

Read more on BBC

American companies, after eating up much of the cost, are increasingly passing some of the burden to consumers through increased prices.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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