burner

noun

burn·​er ˈbər-nər 

plural burners

1

: one that burns: such as

a

: the part of a fuel-burning or heat-producing device (such as a furnace or stove) where the flame or heat is produced

b

: a device for recording data on an optical disk

2

: an athlete who possesses great speed

3

: burner phone

… I leaned over and checked the glove box. There were two cell phones in there, both pre-paid burners with a set number of pre-paid minutes, both still in their drugstore packaging, effectively untraceable if bought with cash …

—Lee Child

4

medical : stinger sense 4

He missed two games late in the season because of what athletic trainers call "cervical burners," a fairly appropriate description of the pain that would originate in Wadsworth's neck and shoot down his body.

—Emily Dorman

see also:

burner account

Examples of burner in a Sentence

The burner on the furnace isn't working.

The computer comes equipped with a CD burner.

Recent Examples on the Web

This can happen when your burner is set too high, oil splatters and polymerizes (binds to) the exterior, or food boils over and bakes onto the enamel surface. — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 25 July 2026

The kitchen block across from the bathroom has a dual-burner gas stove, sink and 69-L compressor fridge; the rear dining bench has seatbelts for two passengers; and the passenger-side longitudinal bed measures 72 x 30 in (182 x 76 cm). — New Atlas, 21 July 2026

There is a pizza oven, griddle, burners, warming drawer, a Big Green Egg, a Trager Pellet Grill and large Blackstone griddle with a Cowboy Cauldron. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026

To the right of the sink is a Thermador double oven, while on an adjacent wall is an island with an antique brick facade and a four-burner cooktop next to a stainless steel countertop. — Brian Bell, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing burner

• back burner
• barn burner
• Bunsen burner
• burner account
• burner phone
• front burner
• on the back burner
• on the front burner

Rhymes for burner

• earner
• learner
• sterner
• afterburner

Kids Definition

burner

noun

burn·​er ˈbər-nər 

: one that burns: as

a

: the part of a fuel-burning or heat-producing device (as a furnace or stove) where a flame or heat is produced

b

: a device for recording data on an optical disk

Medical Definition

burner

noun

burn·​er ˈbər-nər 

: stinger sense 2