Definition of "burke" in English

verb

1. (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, slang) To murder by suffocation.

   • As soon as the executioner proceeded to his duty, the cries of ‘Burke him, Burke him—give him no rope’... were vociferated... ‘Burke Hare too!’

2. (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.

3. (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, slang) To smother; to conceal, hush up, suppress.

noun

1. (British, slang) Alternative form of berk.