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

Wellhouse Leisure The kitchen offers a compact single gas burner/sink unit with glass top on the driver's side, with a long countertop extending perpendicularly across the rear hatch. — New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026

An island floats at the center of the ultra-modern kitchen with Bulthaup cabinetry, a six-burner Wolf range, and a Viking fridge. — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026

Frank Garza said, as many perpetrators communicate only through burner social media accounts or ask for money through difficult-to-trace platforms. — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026

Outside, a koi pond doubles as the view from the master bedroom’s own terrace, while a second reception room with a wood burner and a drop-down projector screen is built for post-dinner films. — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 6 Aug. 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