ˈbərk transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: after William Burke died 1829 Irish criminal, executed for this crime
1. : to murder by suffocation or strangulation in order to obtain a body to be sold for dissection
2.
a. : to suppress quietly or indirectly : hush up
she had never believed such a thing as the burking of the enquiry into the raid possible — H.W.Nevinson
b. : to set aside without consideration or decision : bypass , avoid
burke the issue