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

• buzz
• chirr
• churr
• drone
• hum
• purr
• thrum
• whir
• whirr
• whiz
• whizz
• zoom

Verb

• bumble
• buzz
• drone
• hum
• whir
• whirr
• whish
• whiz
• whizz
• zip
• zoom

Example Sentences

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

Our pros were impressed with the OXO burr grinder in our tests. —Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 14 Dec. 2022

But in Jamie Lloyd’s heart-racing production, even spoken soliloquies felt like impromptu arias; with his neck-tingling burr, McAvoy was ravishing. —Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 5 Dec. 2022

Flat-burr grinders are more consistent and stay cleaner. —Gear Team, Wired, 13 July 2022

Alithea has an accent, too, which is most definitely determinate in origin, being a Scottish burr. —Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2022

At the climbing gym, young Elliot brings out one of these electric burr devices between burns on the Kilter Board and calmly tends to calluses on his palms and fingers. —Alison Osius, Outside Online, 22 Aug. 2022

The rock could be as minor as a burr on a blade, but if it wasn’t eliminated or moved out of the way, the entire manufacturing process could be compromised. —Lance Knight, Forbes, 13 June 2022

The soup that results is magnificently subtle, playing the delicate, fresh springlike taste of asparagus off the satisfying umami burr of the shiitake mushrooms. —Tribune News Service, cleveland, 6 June 2022

This second book in the series features an ADHD heroine grappling with the messiness of her life and a silver fox swordmaker with a Scottish burr designed to give you chills. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2022

See More

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

• a burr in/under the saddle

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)