burden meaning and definition

BURDEN noun

Definition of burden (noun)

1. an onerous or difficult concern
   • "the burden of responsibility"; "that's a load off my mind"
   • synonyms: encumbrance, incumbrance, load, onus
2. weight to be borne or conveyed
   • synonyms: load, loading
3. the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
   • synonyms: core, effect, essence, gist
4. the central idea that is expanded in a document or discourse

BURDEN verb

Definition of burden (verb)

1. weight down with a load
   • synonyms: burthen, weight, weight down
   • antonym: disburden
2. impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to
   • "He charged her with cleaning up all the files over the weekend"
   • synonyms: charge, saddle