(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If you describe a problem or a responsibility as a ~, you mean that it causes someone a lot of difficulty, worry, or hard work.
The developing countries bear the ~ of an enormous external debt...
Her death will be an impossible ~ on Paul...
The financial ~ will be more evenly shared.
N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft N of/on n
2.
A ~ is a heavy load that is difficult to carry. (FORMAL)
N-COUNT
3.
If someone ~s you with something that is likely to worry you, for example a problem or a difficult decision, they tell you about it.
We decided not to ~ him with the news.
VERB: V n with n, also V n
4.
see also beast of ~