burden
noun OPAL W
/ˈbɜːdn/
/ˈbɜːrdn/
- a duty, responsibility, etc. that causes worry, difficulty or hard work
- to bear/carry/ease/reduce/share the burden
- the burden (of something) The main burden of caring for old people falls on the state.
- burden on somebody the heavy tax burden on working people
- a burden to somebody I don't want to become a burden to my children when I'm old.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- enormous
- great
- heavy
- …
- bear
- carry
- assume
- …
- fall on somebody/something
- burden for
- burden of
- burden on
- …
- the burden of proof
- have a burden on your shoulders
- the burden of doing something
- …
- (formal) a heavy load that is difficult to carry see also beast of burdenOxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + burden
- carry
- pick up
- lay down
- …
- a beast of burden
Word OriginOld English byrthen, of West Germanic origin; related to the verb bear.