burke

[ burk ]

/ bɜrk /

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See synonyms for burke on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), burked, burk·ing.

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.

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Origin of burke

After W. Burke, hanged in 1829 in Edinburgh for murders of this kind

OTHER WORDS FROM burke

burker, burk·ite

[bur-kahyt], /ˈbɜr kaɪt/, noun

Other definitions for burke (2 of 2)

Burke

[ burk ]

/ bɜrk /

noun

Billie Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke, 1886–1970, U.S. actress.

Edmund, 1729–97, Irish statesman, orator, and writer.

Kenneth Du·va

[doo-vuh], /duˈvə/, 1897–1993, U.S. literary critic.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use burke in a sentence

The system is critical, Burke said, because people may act out violently or create other problems when their grievances aren’t addressed.
The Way Prisoners Flag Guard Abuse, Inadequate Health Care and Unsanitary Conditions Is Broken|by Shannon Heffernan, WBEZ|December 2, 2020|ProPublica
“The bi-partisan Senate Ethics Committee, DOJ and SEC all independently and swiftly cleared Senator Perdue months ago, which was reported on,” Burke said.
Georgia Senate runoff: Republican Perdue boosted his wealth with well-timed stock trades|Lee Clifford|November 28, 2020|Fortune
Burke had 23 points and 17 points in two games against the WNBA champion Seattle Storm, showing that she can be a scoring threat against even the toughest defenses.
Do The WNBA’s Most Improved Players Keep Up Their Success?|Jenn Hatfield|October 20, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
It said that the investigators – from the firm Burke, Williams and Sorensen – had sought to interview Gloria to find out more but they were thwarted by the city attorney.
Politics Report: Forged Footnote 15|Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts|September 12, 2020|Voice of San Diego

Burke did not respond to ProPublica’s questions about Johnson’s care.
Sent Home to Die|by Annie Waldman and Joshua Kaplan|September 2, 2020|ProPublica
If a child were lost, the paragraph announcing the fact was headed, “Another supposed case of Burking.”
The Diary of a Resurrectionist, 1811-1812|James Blake Bailey
Well, of course, if Farrant chooses to insult Percival so gratuitously by burking his message to us .
Three Plays by Granville-Barker|Harley Granville-Barker
Then followed the usual process of burking, and Mary Haldane, unfortunate in life, was equally unfortunate in her death.
The History of Burke and Hare|George Mac Gregor
A burker was unknown before the crimes of William Burke were made public; burking was an undiscovered art until he discovered it.
The History of Burke and Hare|George Mac Gregor
In some houses, I saw several foreigners; and in the days when burking was common, many of these unfortunates were made away with.
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 453|Various

British Dictionary definitions for burke (1 of 2)

burke

/ (bɜːk) /

verb (tr)

to murder in such a way as to leave no marks on the body, usually by suffocation

to get rid of, silence, or suppress

Word Origin for burke

C19: named after William Burke, executed in Edinburgh for a murder of this type

British Dictionary definitions for burke (2 of 2)

Burke

/ (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

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

burke

Origin of burke

OTHER WORDS FROM burke

Other definitions for burke (2 of 2)

Words related to burke

How to use burke in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for burke (1 of 2)

Word Origin for burke

British Dictionary definitions for burke (2 of 2)