burr

1 of 2

noun

ˈbər 

1

usually bur

a

: a rough or prickly envelope of a fruit

b

: a plant that bears burs

2

a

: something that sticks or clings

a burr in the throat

b

: hanger-on

3

: an irregular rounded mass

especially : a tree burl

4

: a thin ridge or area of roughness produced in cutting or shaping metal

5

a

: a trilled uvular \r\ as used by some speakers of English especially in northern England and in Scotland

b

: a tongue-point trill that is the usual Scottish \r\

6

a

: a small rotary cutting tool

b

usually bur : a bit used on a dental drill

7

: a rough humming sound : whir

burred

ˈbərd 

adjective

burr

2 of 2

verb

burred; burring; burrs

intransitive verb

1

: to speak with a burr

2

: to make a whirring sound

transitive verb

1

: to pronounce with a burr

2

a

: to form into a projecting edge

b

: to remove burrs from

burrer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• hum
• purr
• buzz
• rustle

Verb

• hum
• buzz
• zip
• whirr
• whisper

Examples of burr in a Sentence

Noun

a tool that can cut through steel leaving a smooth edge and no burrs

heard the burr of a distant engine

Verb

the pitch burred past the batter's ear

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The conventional wisdom is that flat burr grinders are precise, and conical burr grinders are more likely to show a balanced blend of grind sizes—and therefore bring out sweetness, depth, and chocolate. —Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 13 Aug. 2025

Then strain again through the cheesecloth as directed above. Notes: Use a burr grinder or the supermarket coffee-aisle grinder to achieve a coarse to medium-coarse grind, or ask your local coffee shop to grind the beans for you. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025

The alternative to burr grinders is blade grinders. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 14 July 2025

Think conical burr grinders, milk frothers, and more. —Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English burre; akin to Old English byrst bristle — more at bristle

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1798, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing burr

• a burr in/under the saddle

Rhymes for burr

• birr
• blur
• bur
• cur
• er
• fir
• fur
• furr
• gurr
• her
• murr
• myrrh

Kids Definition

burr

noun

ˈbər

1

usually bur

ˈbər

a

: a rough or prickly envelope of a fruit

b

: a plant that bears burs

2

: roughness left in cutting or shaping metal

3

usually bur : a bit used on a dentist's drill

4

: a rough trilled \r\ used by some speakers of English especially in northern England and in Scotland

burred

ˈbərd

adjective

Medical Definition

burr

variant of bur

Biographical Definition

Burr

biographical name

ˈbər 

Aaron 1756–1836 3rd vice president of the U.S. (1801–05)