(bûr′dən) noun
1. Something heavy that is borne or carried; responsibility; a load.
2. Naut. a The carrying capacity of a vessel. b The weight of the cargo.
3. The employment of carrying loads: beasts of burden.
—v.t. To load or overload; oppress, as with care: burdened with responsibilities. See synonyms under LOAD. Also spelled burthen. [OE byrthen load]

(bûr′dən) noun
1. Something often repeated or dwelt upon; the prevailing idea or tone: The burden of the speech was a desire for war.
2. A refrain repeated at the end of every stanza of a song.
3. The drone of a bagpipe. Also spelled burthen. [<F bourdon bass <LL burdo drone]