verb
Common
burke
burk
Burke (verb) means to kill someone by suffocation, especially in order to sell the body for dissection. Example: “The infamous pair would burke their victims and sell the corpses to anatomists.”
verb
1
To kill someone by suffocation, especially in order to sell the body for dissection.
"The infamous pair would burke their victims and sell the corpses to anatomists."
2
To suppress or hush something up quietly.
"The council tried to burke the report before anyone could read it."
"Officials hoped to burke the complaint by simply never replying."
"Socrates and Plato burked the issue."
— Robert Graves, Poems (1953)
"The scandal was quickly burked by those in charge."
How to use burke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo smother someone to death (historically for profit), or to quietly bury/suppress an issue.
When to use it
Rare and mostly historical or literary usage today.
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- burkes
- Past tense
- burked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The infamous pair would _____ their victims and sell the corpses to anatomists.
Etymology
Named after William Burke, a 19th-century Edinburgh murderer who killed victims to sell their bodies to medical schools.
Class of 1800
burke joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for burke
See all rhymes for burke →Frequently asked questions
What does “burke” mean?
The word “burke” means to kill someone by suffocation, especially in order to sell the body for dissection. In plain terms, to smother someone to death (historically for profit), or to quietly bury/suppress an issue.
How do you pronounce “burke”?
“Burke” is pronounced burk (/bɜː(ɹ)k/ in IPA).
How do you use “burke” in a sentence?
Here is “burke” used in a sentence: “The infamous pair would burke their victims and sell the corpses to anatomists.”
What part of speech is “burke”?
“Burke” is a verb.
Where does the word “burke” come from?
The word “burke” dates back to around 1800. Named after William Burke, a 19th-century Edinburgh murderer who killed victims to sell their bodies to medical schools.
Is “burke” a common word?
“Burke” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “burke” have?
“Burke” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to kill someone by suffocation, especially in order to sell the body for dissection.
What is the difference between 'burke' and 'smother'?
Burke historically means to kill by suffocation, especially by compressing the chest so the body is left unmarked for sale to anatomists. Smother is the general term for killing by blocking someone's airway. Both involve suffocation, but 'burke' carries that specific historical and criminal sense.
How is 'burke' used to mean suppressing something?
In its figurative sense, to burke a question, report, or inquiry means to stifle it quietly so it never comes to public attention. For example, an awkward proposal might be 'burked' in committee. This use is formal and now fairly rare.
Is 'burke' still used in modern English?
Both meanings of 'burke' are uncommon today and appear mainly in historical, legal, or literary writing. The 'suppress or hush up' sense survives a little more than the original 'kill by suffocation' sense.
