burden : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: burden	by the DICT Development Group
8 results for burden
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
burden n an onerous or difficult concern; "the burden of responsibility"; "that's a load off my mind" Synonym(s): burden, load, encumbrance, incumbrance, onus weight to be borne or conveyed Synonym(s): load, loading, burden the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work Synonym(s): effect, essence, burden, core, gist the central idea that is expanded in a document or discourse v weight down with a load [syn: burden, burthen, weight, weight down] Antonym(s): disburden, unburden impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to; "He charged her with cleaning up all the files over the weekend" Synonym(s): charge, saddle, burden
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Burden \Bur"den\ (b[ucir]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. I would sing my song without a burden. --Shak. 2. The drone of a bagpipe. --Ruddiman.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Burden \Bur"den\ (b[ucir]"d'n), n. [Written also burthen.] [OE. burden, burthen, birthen, birden, AS. byr[edh]en; akin to Icel. byr[edh]i, Dan. byrde, Sw. b[94]rda, G. b[81]rde, OHG. burdi, Goth. ba[a3]r[thorn]ei, fr. the root of E. bear, AS. beran, Goth. bairan. [fb]92. See 1st {Bear}.] 1. That which is borne or carried; a load. Plants with goodly burden bowing. --Shak. 2. That which is borne with labor or difficulty; that which is grievous, wearisome, or oppressive. Deaf, giddy, helpless, left alone, To all my friends a burden grown. --Swift. 3. The capacity of a vessel, or the weight of cargo that she will carry; as, a ship of a hundred tons burden. 4. (Mining) The tops or heads of stream-work which lie over the stream of tin. 5. (Metal.) The proportion of ore and flux to fuel, in the charge of a blast furnace. --Raymond. 6. A fixed quantity of certain commodities; as, a burden of gad steel, 120 pounds. 7. A birth. [Obs. & R.] --Shak. {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. 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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Burden \Bur"den\, n. [See {Burdon}.] A club. [Obs.] --Spenser.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
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. I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened. --2 Cor. viii. 13. 2. To oppress with anything grievous or trying; to overload; as, to burden a nation with taxes. My burdened heart would break. --Shak. 3. To impose, as a load or burden; to lay or place as a burden (something heavy or objectionable). [R.] It is absurd to burden this act on Cromwell. --Coleridge. Syn: To load; encumber; overload; oppress.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Burdon \Bur"don\, n. [See {Bourdon}.] A pilgrim's staff. [Written also {burden}.] --Rom. of R.
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Burden, KS (city, FIPS 9250) Location: 37.31314 N, 96.75503 W Population (1990): 518 (221 housing units) Area: 1.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 67019
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Burden (1.) A load of any kind (Ex. 23:5). (2.) A severe task (Ex. 2:11). (3.) A difficult duty, requiring effort (Ex. 18:22). (4.) A prophecy of a calamitous or disastrous nature (Isa. 13:1; 17:1; Hab. 1:1, etc.).