burial
act or ceremony of burying the dead
The act or ceremony of putting a dead body into the ground or another final place.
the burial of [someone]; [someone]’s burial
- The family held a private burial in the village cemetery.
- She flew back to her hometown for her grandfather’s burial.
- Local law requires the burial of all bodies within seventy-two hours.
- The soldiers received a formal military burial with full honors.
- The burial will take place on Friday.
- Many people came to his burial.
- Her family arranged a quiet burial in a small cemetery.
- They chose a hill near the town for her burial.
complete covering under material
The act of fully covering something under earth, snow, or another material.
the burial of [something] under [material]
- Rapid burial of organic material can lead to the formation of fossils.
- The sudden burial of the village under volcanic ash forced residents to flee.
- Burial of the pipeline will protect it from extreme temperatures.
- The report describes the gradual burial of the coastline by drifting sand.
- The storm caused the burial of many cars in snow.
- The volcano led to the burial of the town in ash.
- Heavy rain can lead to the burial of roads under mud.
- The landslide caused the burial of several houses.
archaeological grave or burial
A grave or place in the ground where one person or a group was buried, often studied by archaeologists.
a/an [adjective] burial; [number] burials were found
- The team uncovered a Neolithic burial beneath the church floor.
- Each burial contained pottery, beads, and simple metal tools.
- Archaeologists recorded over fifty burials at the ancient cemetery.
- One burial was clearly richer, suggesting a high-status individual.
- The scientists found an old burial under the farm.
- Three burials were discovered at the dig site.
- The burial had many small pots around the bones.
- This burial is from the Bronze Age.
- Base: burial
- Plural: burial, burials
burial at sea
1funeral where body is put into sea
A funeral where a dead body is put into the sea instead of into the ground.
- His final wish was to have a burial at sea.
- The navy carried out a brief burial at sea for the sailors.
burial ground
1place where people are buried
An area of land where dead people are buried; a cemetery or graveyard.
- The village burial ground lies just beyond the church.
- Developers were blocked from building on the old burial ground.
burial mound
1earth hill over a grave
A small hill of earth built long ago over a grave or graves.
- The ancient burial mound can be seen from the road.
- Archaeologists excavated a burial mound dating back three thousand years.
burial site
1specific location of a burial
The exact place where a dead person or group of people is buried.
- They visited the burial site of the famous poet.
- Archaeologists believe this field was once a royal burial site.
Christian burial
1burial with Christian rites
A burial done with Christian prayers and customs.
- She asked for a Christian burial in her hometown churchyard.
- The law guaranteed every citizen the right to a Christian burial.
decent burial
1respectful, basic burial
A simple but respectful burial that gives a person basic dignity after death.
- He felt it was his duty to ensure the stranger received a decent burial.
- War victims were finally given a decent burial decades later.
mass burial
1burial of many people together
The act of burying many dead people at the same time, often in the same place.
- The disaster forced officials to organize a mass burial.
- Investigators discovered a mass burial site in the forest.
proper burial
1socially or religiously acceptable burial
A burial that is seen as correct and respectful according to a family’s, society’s, or religion’s rules.
- The family wanted to give her a proper burial.
- Many victims were never given a proper burial.