burden

burden

¹

Nautical

a. the cargo capacity of a ship

b. the weight of a ship's cargo

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burden

²

1. a line of words recurring at the end of each verse of a ballad or similar song; chorus or refrain

2. another word for bourdon

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

burden

[′bərd·ən]

(electricity)

The amount of power drawn from the circuit connecting the secondary terminals of an instrument transformer, usually expressed in volt-amperes.

(engineering)

The distance from a drill hole to the more or less vertical surface of rock that has already been exposed by blasting or excavating.

The volume of the rock to be removed by blasting in a drill hole.

(geology)

All types of rock or earthy materials overlying bedrock.

(metallurgy)

The material which is melted in a direct arc furnace.

In an iron blast furnace, the ratio of iron and flux to coke and other fuels in the charge.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

burden

1. Earthy material, rock, etc., which overlays bedrock.

2. In blasting, the distance between the blasting charge and the free face of the material to be blasted.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.