n.
Pronunciation: ' b ə r-d ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English byrthen; akin to Old English beran to carry ― more at BEAR
Date: before 12th century
1 a : something that is carried : LOAD b : DUTY , RESPONSIBILITY
2 : something oppressive or worrisome
3 a : the bearing of a load ― usually used in the phrase beast of burden b : capacity for carrying cargo <a ship of a hundred tons burden >
4 : LOAD 11 <worm burden > <cancer burden >