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 Words From

• 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

According to Florida’s law, it remains a felony to perform or actively participate in an abortion six weeks after gestation, with limited exceptions that are designed to be difficult to use and frequently act as another burden for patients to overcome.

From Salon

Americans would never change their habits of consumption, he asserted, but new immigrants would only consume more, rising to this country’s standard of living and expanding the net environmental burden on the world.

From Salon

He maintains that his work always arose from a genuine concern that more people will place an unsustainable burden on the planet.

From Salon

"I was treated like a burden, people would say you can't be a carer for her, but I didn't need a carer."

From BBC

But this is a burden every Democratic candidate has to carry.

From Slate

Related Words

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