I. bur ‧ den 1 /ˈbɜːdn $ ˈbɜːrdn/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: byrthen ]
1 . [countable] something difficult or worrying that you are responsible for:
His family responsibilities had started to become a burden.
burden of
The burden of taxation has risen considerably.
burden on
I don’t like being a burden on other people.
bear/carry the burden
If things go wrong he will bear the burden of guilt.
the tax/financial/debt burden
2 . the burden of proof law the duty to prove that something is true
3 . [countable] something that is carried SYN load
⇨ ↑ beast of burden
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ bear/carry/shoulder the burden (=be responsible for something)
At the age of 16, Suzy bore the burden of providing for her family.
▪ place/put a burden on somebody
This situation places the main burden of family care on women.
▪ share the burden
I was glad my brother was there to share the burden.
▪ ease/reduce/lighten the burden
Smaller classes would ease the burden for teachers.
▪ shift the burden (=change who carries it)
The tax shifts the burden towards the rich.
▪ a burden falls on somebody
The tax burden falls most heavily upon the poorest people.
▪ lift the burden from somebody's shoulders
If I deal with the all the practical problems, that will lift the burden from your shoulders.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + burden
▪ a heavy/great burden
Caring for elderly relatives can be a heavy burden.
▪ a financial burden
the financial burden of a large mortgage
▪ a tax burden
These changes will ease the tax burden for small businesses.
▪ a debt burden
He made a serious attempt ease the country's debt burden.
▪ an intolerable burden (=very hard to bear)
Too many exams can place an intolerable burden on young people.
▪ an unfair/undue burden
The new legislation put an unfair burden on employers.
■ phrases
▪ the burden of responsibility
He felt unable to cope with the burden of responsibility.
▪ the burden of taxation
The burden of taxation falls more heavily on the poor.
II. burden 2 BrE AmE verb
1 . be burdened with/by something to have a lot of problems because of a particular thing:
a company burdened with debt
⇨ ↑ unburden
2 . be burdened with something to be carrying something heavy