burke
/bə:k/
Học thuậtThân thiện
A sheriff in the Old West town of Burke rides his horse down the dusty main street.
Definition
- Verb:
- To suppress or silence something, typically in a secretive or underhanded manner: "burke" means to get rid of, hide, or prevent something from being known or discussed.
- To murder someone by suffocation, especially to leave no visible marks on the body for the purpose of selling the corpse for dissection: This historical meaning refers to a specific method of killing associated with body snatchers.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- The government tried to burke the scandal to avoid public outrage.
- Historical accounts describe how criminals would burke their victims to supply anatomists.
Advanced Usage
- "to burke an issue/question": to avoid or suppress discussion of a particular topic.
- The committee was accused of burking the most critical questions about the project's failure.
Variants and Related Words
- Burking (n): The act of suppressing something or the historical act of murder by suffocation.
- The burking of the report was a clear attempt at censorship.
Synonyms
- Suppress: to put an end to the activity or visibility of something.
- Quash: to reject or void, especially by legal procedure; to put an end to.
- Stifle: to make (someone) unable to breathe properly; suffocate. To restrain (a reaction) or stop oneself acting on (an emotion).
Phrasal Verbs
Related Idioms
A sheriff in the Old West town of Burke rides his horse down the dusty main street.
Noun
- United States frontierswoman and legendary figure of the Wild West noted for her marksmanship (1852-1903)
- British statesman famous for his oratory; pleaded the cause of the American colonists in British Parliament and defended the parliamentary system (1729-1797)
Verb
- get rid of, silence, or suppress
- burke an issue
- murder without leaving a trace on the body