bur|den

bur|den
bur|den1 «BUR duhn noun, verb.
–n.
1. something carried; a load (of things, care, work, duty, or sorrow): »

A light burden of cork was loaded on the old mule's back. Figurative. We have to carry each day's burden.

 SYNONYM(S): See syn. under load. (Cf. ↑load)
2. a load too heavy to carry easily; heavy load: »

Figurative. His debts are a burden that will ruin him.

 SYNONYM(S): weight, encumbrance.
3. the quantity of freight that a ship can carry; weight of a ship's cargo.
–v.t.
1. to put a burden on; load: »

The mule was burdened with the campers' supplies.

2. to load too heavily; weigh down; oppress: »

Figurative. The President is burdened with responsibility for decisions which may affect the whole world.

╂[Old English byrthen. See related etym. at bear2. (Cf. ↑bear)]
–bur´den|less, adjective.
bur|den2 «BUR duhn», noun.
1. the main idea or message: »

The way to achieve peace was the burden of the President's speech.

SYNONYM(S): gist.
2. a repeated verse in a song; chorus; refrain.
3. Obsolete. the bass undersong or accompaniment, especially on a bagpipe; bourdon.
╂[< Old French bourdon a humming; the drone of a bagpipe < Medieval Latin burdo, -onis pipe. See etym. of doublet bourdon. (Cf. ↑bourdon)]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • bur´den|some|ness — bur|den|some «BUR duhn suhm», adjective. hard to bear; very heavy; oppressive: »Figurative. The President s many duties are burdensome. SYNONYM(S): oppressing, onerous. See syn. under heavy. (Cf. ↑heavy) –bur´den|some|ly, adverb.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • bur´den|some|ly — bur|den|some «BUR duhn suhm», adjective. hard to bear; very heavy; oppressive: »Figurative. The President s many duties are burdensome. SYNONYM(S): oppressing, onerous. See syn. under heavy. (Cf. ↑heavy) –bur´den|some|ly, adverb.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • bur|den|some — «BUR duhn suhm», adjective. hard to bear; very heavy; oppressive: »Figurative. The President s many duties are burdensome. SYNONYM(S): oppressing, onerous. See syn. under heavy. (Cf. ↑heavy) –bur´den|some|ly, adverb. –bur´den|some|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • bur´den|less — bur|den1 «BUR duhn noun, verb. –n. 1. something carried; a load (of things, care, work, duty, or sorrow): »A light burden of cork was loaded on the old mule s back. Figurative. We have to carry each day s burden. SYNONYM(S): See syn. under load.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • o|ver|bur|den — «verb. OH vuhr BUR duhn; noun. OH vuhr BUR duhn», verb, noun. –v.t. to load with too great a burden: »Figurative. A catalogue of the absurdities in which we have indulged under the influence of fear would overburden this document (Bulletin of… …   Useful english dictionary

  • dis|bur|den|ment — «dihs BUR duhn muhnt», noun. the act of disburdening or state of being disburdened …   Useful english dictionary

  • dis|bur|den — «dihs BUR duhn», transitive verb. 1. to relieve of a burden: »Figurative. The boy disburdened his mind to his mother by confessing that he had broken the expensive lamp accidentally. 2. to get rid of (a burden); unload. –v.i. to unload; discharge …   Useful english dictionary

  • o|ver|bur|den|some — «OH vuhr BUR duhn suhm», adjective. excessively burdensome: »Too many tasks become overburdensome …   Useful english dictionary

  • un|bur|den — «uhn BUR duhn», transitive verb. 1. to free from a burden. 2. Figurative. to relieve (one s mind or heart) by talking: »Tomorrow I die, and today I would unburden my soul (Edgar Allan Poe). 3. Figurative. to throw off or disclose (something that… …   Useful english dictionary

  • bur·den·some — …   Useful english dictionary

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