1. to suppress or ignore (a problem, issue, or question) deliberately; to avoid dealing with something
Usage: informal; often used in political or social contexts
2. to murder (a person) by suffocation or smothering, especially to avoid leaving marks
Usage: archaic; historical; derived from William Burke, 18th-century murderer

Examples

• The administration burks the issue of rising tuition costs.
• Critics say the report burks the real causes of the problem.
• He burks difficult questions during interviews.
• The committee decided to burks the controversial proposal rather than debate it.
• She burks her doubts and moves forward with the plan.