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 ( def 3 ).
5. Metallurgy. the minerals charged into a blast furnace or steelmaking furnace.
6. Accounting. overhead ( def 6 ).

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 onerous

   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

• burden·er noun
• burden·less 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

"We're one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and wildfires every spring at the worst possible time is a burden that wildlife and the environment just can't cope with."

From BBC

Lowering the risk-based recommended vaccination age would provide earlier and more widespread protection, reducing overall disease burden and associated health care costs.

From Salon

The burden had lifted, never again would we be able to ask the questions that had nagged him for more than a decade.

From BBC

The guttural emotion following Sunday's winning putt was McIlroy shedding the weight of burden which had laid heavy.

From BBC

As China, Canada and other countries retaliate against U.S. tariffs by imposing their own taxes on American goods, a substantial burden could fall on California’s farming businesses.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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