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Definition of burdekin

burdekin

/ˈbɜːrdɪkɪn/
Bur · de · kin
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burdekin Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Australian A major river in North Queensland, Australia, featuring one of the country's largest and most economically significant water catchments, extensively utilized for agricultural irrigation.

2

Australian A local government area (Shire of Burdekin) and its surrounding region in North Queensland, Australia, widely known as the sugar capital of the nation.

Example

"After finishing her agricultural science degree, she moved to the Burdekin to work closely with local agronomists."

Word Nuance & Usage

Almost exclusively capitalized as 'Burdekin' because it functions as a proper noun denoting Australian geographical features, or as an attributive noun in species names (e.g., Burdekin plum, Burdekin duck).

• Nearby Words

burberry
burble
burbot
burdekin
burden
burdenless
burdensome

Word Origin & Etymology

Named in 1845 by the Prussian explorer Ludwig Leichhardt in honor of Mrs. Thomas Burdekin, a patron who helped sponsor his expedition across northern Australia.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Burdekin. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/burdekin
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