burke
verb (used with object)
to murder, as by suffocation, so as to leave no or few marks of violence.
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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.
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Edmund, 1729–97, Irish statesman, orator, and writer.
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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
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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:
Little joy would you have had in most that has befallen since the Reform Bill was passed, to the chivalrous cry of "burke Sir Walter."
From Letters to Dead Authors by Andrew Lang
Confound the greedy hypocrite!" said Bob; "does he think we shall let him burke the line for nothing?
From Stories by English Authors: Scotland (Selected by Scribners) by J. M. (James Matthew) Barrie
No use attempting to burke what is open secret.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 103, August 20, 1892 by Various
Look here—it's no use trying to burke facts.
From Scarhaven Keep by J. S. (Joseph Smith) Fletcher
There is no disposition here to burke the fact that these responsibilities are serious, if not onerous; that they call for administrative statesmanship of a very high order.
From The Head Hunters of Northern Luzon by Cornélis de Witt Willcox
At Georgia State, registration has been boiled down into “the simplest terms,” said Scott Burke, senior associate vice president of admissions and enrollment management.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
His Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke backed up that statement with figures showing that reports of threatening or harassing behaviour towards politicians had risen from 951 to 1,067 in the past year.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
“There’s no getting around it, you know, that was a hot print, and it looks like inflationary expectations or inflationary pressures are persisting,” Trust Company of the South’s chief investment strategist Burke Koonce said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
That leaves right guard Cole Strange, a fifth-year veteran, likely starting alongside four rookies: left tackle Logan Taylor, left guard Jake Slaughter, center Jacob Spomer and right tackle Travis Burke.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
“We stopped karaoke so you could tell me Glenn Burke was gay? This is what couldn’t wait?”
From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner
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
Between you and Mr. Theydon, the work of my department has been hindered and burked most scandalously.
From Number Seventeen by Louis Tracy
I am sorry to say that, stenographically speaking, I burked Isaiah, and contented myself with the long-hand abbreviation, Is., and as to the text itself, I thought the first three words would suffice.
From Curious Church Customs and Cognate Subjects by William Andrews
Every woman who dares to speak on this great burked subject seems to have "a remedy" ready to her hand.
From The Truth About Woman by C. Gasquoine (Catherine Gasquoine) Hartley
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
For there is no burking the truth that in many respects the American woman carries about her a peculiar charm ungranted as yet to her European sisters.
From Post-Prandial Philosophy by Grant Allen
Any tax, therefore, levied on those who have neither land nor money is a crying injustice, except, indeed," he added with bitter irony, "we admit of a small pole-tax to keep down burking.
From Dilemmas of Pride, (Vol 1 of 3) by Margracia Loudon
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
You don’t suppose as I’m giving up my respectable business of a nat’ralist to go in for burking and doctor’s work, do you?
From A Little World by George Manville Fenn
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