burden

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: loadencumbranceincumbranceonusloadingeffectessencecoregistburthenweightweight down

WordNet 3.0

Noun (4)

  1. an onerous or difficult concern“the burden of responsibility”“that's a load off my mind”Synonyms: loadencumbranceincumbranceonus
  2. weight to be borne or conveyedSynonyms: loadloading
  3. the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary workSynonyms: effectessencecoregist
  4. the central idea that is expanded in a document or discourse

Verb (2)

  1. weight down with a loadSynonyms: burthenweightweight down
  2. impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to“He charged her with cleaning up all the files over the weekend”Synonyms: chargesaddle
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Burden \Bur"den\ (b[^u]"d'n), n. [Written also burthen.] [OE. burden, burthen, birthen, birden, AS. byr[eth]en; akin to Icel. byr[eth]i, Dan. byrde, Sw. b["o]rda, G. b["u]rde, OHG. burdi, Goth. ba['u]r[thorn]ei, fr. the root of E. bear, AS. beran, Goth. bairan. [root]92. See 1st Bear.]

1.That which is borne or carried; a load. [1913 Webster]

Plants with goodly burden bowing.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.That which is borne with labor or difficulty; that which is grievous, wearisome, or oppressive. [1913 Webster]

Deaf, giddy, helpless, left alone, To all my friends a burden grown.— Swift.[1913 Webster]

3.The capacity of a vessel, or the weight of cargo that she will carry; as, a ship of a hundred tons burden. [1913 Webster]

4.(Mining) The tops or heads of stream-work which lie over the stream of tin. [1913 Webster]

5.(Metal.) The proportion of ore and flux to fuel, in the charge of a blast furnace. --Raymond. [1913 Webster]

6.A fixed quantity of certain commodities; as, a burden of gad steel, 120 pounds. [1913 Webster]

7.A birth. [Obs. & R.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Beast of burden, an animal employed in carrying burdens.

Burden of proof [L. onus probandi] (Law), the duty of proving a particular position in a court of law, a failure in the performance of which duty calls for judgment against the party on whom the duty is imposed. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Burden, Load.

Usage: A burden is, in the literal sense, a weight to be borne; a load is something laid upon us to be carried. Hence, when used figuratively, there is usually a difference between the two words. Our burdens may be of such a nature that we feel bound to bear them cheerfully or without complaint. They may arise from the nature of our situation; they may be allotments of Providence; they may be the consequences of our errors. What is upon us, as a load, we commonly carry with greater reluctance or sense of oppression. Men often find the charge of their own families to be a burden; but if to this be added a load of care for others, the pressure is usually serve and irksome. [1913 Webster]

Burdon \Bur"don\, n. [See Bourdon.] A pilgrim's staff. [Written also burden.] --Rom. of R. [1913 Webster]
Burden \Bur"den\ (b[^u]r"d'n), n. [OE. burdoun the bass in music, F. bourdon; cf. LL. burdo drone, a long organ pipe, a staff, a mule. Prob. of imitative origin. Cf. Bourdon.]

1.The verse repeated in a song, or the return of the theme at the end of each stanza; the chorus; refrain. Hence: That which is often repeated or which is dwelt upon; the main topic; as, the burden of a prayer. [1913 Webster]

I would sing my song without a burden.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.The drone of a bagpipe. --Ruddiman. [1913 Webster]

Burden \Bur"den\, n. [See Burdon.] A club. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
Burden \Bur"den\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burdened; p. pr. & vb. n. Burdening.]

1.To encumber with weight (literal or figurative); to lay a heavy load upon; to load. [1913 Webster]

I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened.— 2 Cor. viii. 13.[1913 Webster]

2.To oppress with anything grievous or trying; to overload; as, to burden a nation with taxes. [1913 Webster]

My burdened heart would break.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

3.To impose, as a load or burden; to lay or place as a burden (something heavy or objectionable). [R.] [1913 Webster]

It is absurd to burden this act on Cromwell.— Coleridge.[1913 Webster]

Syn: To load; encumber; overload; oppress. [1913 Webster]

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