burke
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.”
How to Use Burke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo smother someone to death (historically for profit), or to quietly bury/suppress an issue.
Rare and mostly historical or literary usage today.
Word Forms
burked past tense, Burkes plural, burkes singular
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.
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.