burner

noun

burn·​er ˈbər-nər How to pronounce burner (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After two weeks of surviving on biscuits, one daily can of cheese between four men, and a handful of stale pitas, a gas burner finally arrives. Eli Sharabi, Time, 1 Oct. 2025 Bring it to a boil, then turn the burner off and allow the balls to soak. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025 With music moving to the back-burner, fans can expect Cudi to focus more on directing, acting, painting and fashion. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2025 The best induction burner is the Cuisinart Double Induction Cooktop. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for burner

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of burner was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Burner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burner. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

burner

noun
burn·​er ˈbər-nər How to pronounce burner (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce burner (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on burner

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