Burke
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /bɜː(ɹ)k/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Burke is a verb meaning (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, slang) To murder by suffocation.
Meaning
(UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, slang) To murder by suffocation.
More Meanings
- (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, slang) To smother; to conceal, hush up, suppress.
- (British, slang) Alternative form of berk.
- (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, slang, historical) To murder for the same purpose as Burke, to kill in order to have a body to sell to anatomists, surgeons, etc.
Example Sentences
Socrates and Plato burked the issue.
Perhaps he is Burked, and his body sold for nine pounds.
He put away—burked—the Directors' letter, and went in to talk to Riley
‘You don’t mean to say he was burked, Sam?’ said Mr. Pickwick, looking hastily round.
Word Forms
- burkes
- burking
- burked
Synonyms for burke
Depending on context, synonyms include silence.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include silence, burk, perk, burka, buck, burkha.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.