Burden — Defs

01 n. That which is borne or carried; a load.

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.
The tops or heads of stream-work which lie over the stream of tin.(Mining)
5.
The proportion of ore and flux to fuel, in the charge of a blast furnace.(Metal.)
6.
A fixed quantity of certain commodities; as, a burden of gad steel, 120 pounds.
7.
A birth.[Obs. & R.]

Phrases & compounds

Beast of burden — an animal employed in carrying burdens.

Burden of proof — 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.

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.

02 v. t. To encumber with weight (literal or figurative); to lay a heavy load upon; to load.

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.

03 n. 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 repeate…

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.

04 n. A club.

1.
A club.[Obs.]