Library / English Dictionary

BURDEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Weight to be borne or conveyed

Synonyms:

burden; load; loading

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("burden" is a kind of...):

weight (an artifact that is heavy)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "burden"):

burthen (a variant of 'burden')

dead load (a constant load on a structure (e.g. a bridge) due to the weight of the supported structure itself)

live load; superload (a variable load on a structure (e.g. a bridge) such as moving traffic)

millstone (any load that is difficult to carry)

overburden; overload (an excessive burden)

overload (an electrical load that exceeds the available electrical power)

Derivation:

burden (weight down with a load)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An onerous or difficult concern

Example:

that's a load off my mind

Synonyms:

burden; encumbrance; incumbrance; load; onus

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("burden" is a kind of...):

concern; headache; vexation; worry (something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "burden"):

pill (something unpleasant or offensive that must be tolerated or endured)

imposition (an uncalled-for burden)

fardel (a burden (figuratively in the form of a bundle))

dead weight (an oppressive encumbrance)

Derivation:

burden (impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The central idea that is expanded in a document or discourse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("burden" is a kind of...):

idea; thought (the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work

Synonyms:

burden; core; effect; essence; gist

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("burden" is a kind of...):

import; meaning; significance; signification (the message that is intended or expressed or signified)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to

Example:

He charged her with cleaning up all the files over the weekend

Synonyms:

burden; charge; saddle

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "burden" is one way to...):

command; require (make someone do something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "burden"):

overburden (burden with too much work or responsibility)

bear down (exert a force or cause a strain upon)

deluge; flood out; overwhelm (charge someone with too many tasks)

adjure (command solemnly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody with something

Derivation:

burden (an onerous or difficult concern)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Weight down with a load

Synonyms:

burden; burthen; weight; weight down

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "burden" is one way to...):

charge (fill or load to capacity)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "burden"):

overburden (load with excessive weight)

plumb (weight with lead)

saddle (load or burden; encumber)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s something with something

Antonym:

unburden (take the burden off; remove the burden from)

Derivation:

burden (weight to be borne or conveyed)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Previous research showed it was possible to reduce the burden of damaged cells, termed senescent cells, and extend lifespan and improve health, even when treatment was initiated late in life.

(Scientists Find Natural Product That Slows Aging, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

"I have done," was the burden of the poem.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Fears the thought of being burdened with the "soul" of anything.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

If I have ever had a burden on my heart, it has been lightened for me.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

And twice again we came down the path burdened with skins, till I thought we had enough to roof the hut.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

It was with the daughter of Mr Shepherd, who had returned, after an unprosperous marriage, to her father's house, with the additional burden of two children.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

We be too old, our legs are not strong, nor can our backs carry the burdens of camp and trail.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Allergic diseases belong to the most common causes of chronic illness and create a high burden of suffering due to the great impairment in quality of life.

(New Approach to Predict Respiratory Allergy in Early Childhood, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Scale (PDQUALIF) My Parkinson's symptoms cause me to feel like a burden to other people.

(PDQUALIF - Burden to Others, NCI Thesaurus)

You have burdened your memory with exploded systems and useless names.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)