burke

An obsolete verb meaning to murder by suffocation, or to suppress or hush up something quietly.

• 🇩🇪Veraltetes Verb mit der Bedeutung, jemanden durch Ersticken zu töten, oder etwas still zu unterdrücken oder zu vertuschen.

1. Murder without leaving marks C2 formal british

   To kill someone by suffocation or strangulation in a way that leaves no visible marks on the body.

   • The criminal was known to burke his victims to avoid detection.
   • The detective suspected the victim had been burked.
   • Historical accounts describe how some murderers would burke their targets.

   🇩🇪Töten ohne Spuren

   Synonyme: smotherstranglesuffocatethrottle

2. Suppress or silence C2 formal british

   To get rid of, silence, or suppress something, such as an idea, rumor, or investigation.

   • The government tried to burke the scandal.
   • They attempted to burke any discussion of the controversial topic.
   • The committee voted to burke the report entirely.

   🇩🇪Unterdrücken oder zum Schweigen bringen

   Synonyme: curbhush upmuzzlequashquellrepresssilencesmothersquashstiflesuppress

   Antonyme: airbroadcastdisclosedivulgeexposeexpressrevealuttervoice