burke
verb (used with object)
to murder, as by suffocation, so as to leave no or few marks of violence.
burke
1 American
[burk]
/ bɜrk /
verb (used with object)
burked,
burking
-
to murder, as by suffocation, so as to leave no or few marks of violence.
-
to suppress or get rid of by some indirect maneuver.
Burke
2
American
[burk]
/ bɜrk /
noun
-
Billie Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke, 1886–1970, U.S. actress.
-
Edmund, 1729–97, Irish statesman, orator, and writer.
-
Kenneth Duva 1897–1993, U.S. literary critic.
Burke
1
British
/ bɜːk /
noun
-
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
-
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
-
William . 1792–1829, Irish murderer and body snatcher; associate of William Hare
burke
2
British
/ bɜːk /
verb
-
to murder in such a way as to leave no marks on the body, usually by suffocation
-
to get rid of, silence, or suppress
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.
See Examples For:
I think they used it first for Pethick Lawrence, that man who did so much to run the old militant suffragettes and burke the proper discussion of woman's future.
From Marriage by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
You cannot, beyond a certain limit of time, burke reality.
From The Free Press by Hilaire Belloc
No use attempting to burke what is open secret.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 103, August 20, 1892 by Various
Better perhaps not to burke the matter that she knew was on his mind.
From The Thousandth Woman by Ernest W. Hornung
He has never been known to burke a school.
From Anticipations Of the Reaction of Mechanical and Scientific Progress upon Human life and Thought by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
“It’s an epic fantasy. It has real danger. It’s got like real emotional stakes and consequences,” David Burke, an executive producer on “Wildwood,” said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
Washington played Dr. Preston Burke on “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2005 but was nixed from the medical drama in 2007 after an on-set spat with co-star Patrick Dempsey, a.k.a.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
“These were easy cases that came up and they were the principals running the business,” said Karen Burke, a tax law professor at the University of Florida.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
When Sean Burke and Alyse Stanley bought their first home in Rockford, Ill., in October 2023, the average 30-year mortgage rate had just crossed 8%.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
Aedanus Burke, for example, warned that the petitioners were “blowing the trumpet of sedition” and demanded that the galleries be cleared of all spectators and newspaper reporters.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
They burked the challenge then; their half measures of diplomatic ostracism only strengthened Franco with his own people.
From Time Magazine Archive
No, Mas’r Harry, I don’t; but I feel quite sure as they’ve burked him, and got him away with them bars of gold.
From The Golden Magnet by George Manville Fenn
Here, then, are two parallels to Fisher's ghost, and very hard on psychical science it is that ghostly evidence should be deliberately burked through the prejudices of lawyers.
From The Valet's tragedy, and other studies by Andrew Lang
Or to bring it directly home to Dickens, the following quotation will serve: "'You don't mean to say he was "burked," Sam?' said Mr. Pickwick."
From Dickens' London by M. F. (Milburg Francisco) Mansfield
Sir Charles's proposal was burked; but he had laid the powder, which was soon after fired and led to the successive explosions around the Parnell Commission.
From The Strand Magazine, Volume V, Issue 29, May 1893 An Illustrated Monthly by Various
Macdonald's motion provoked charges of burking free discussion, and counter-charges of obstruction, want of patriotism and inclinations towards annexation.
From George Brown by John Lewis
"I'm not even allowed to weed my own garden now," John thought, burking the point at issue; and his disillusionment became so profound that he actually invited Harold to go for a walk with him.
From Poor Relations by Compton MacKenzie
The burking of his cablegrams, made known by the Baron, was the last straw in an aggravated load.
From The Wheel O' Fortune by Louis Tracy
Well, of course, if Farrant chooses to insult Percival so gratuitously by burking his message to us....
From Waste A Tragedy, In Four Acts by Harley Granville-Barker
It was a singular fact that the really effective means of burking inquiry by the local authorities only occurred to Armathwaite's perplexed brain as he was hurrying back to the Grange.
From The House 'Round the Corner by Louis Tracy
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