: a hole or excavation in the ground made by an animal (such as a rabbit) for shelter and habitation
burrowed; burrowing; burrows
1
a
: to make a burrow
A fox had burrowed into the side of the hill.
b
: to progress by or as if by digging
burrowing through a pile of paperwork
3
: to conceal oneself in or as if in a burrow
1
a
: to penetrate by means of a burrow
The tunnel burrows its way under the mountain.
b
: to construct by tunneling
burrowed a dwelling
3
archaic
: to hide in or as if in a hole in the ground made by an animal for shelter and habitation : to hide in or as if in a burrow
was burrowed in his cave
burrower
noun
Examples of burrow in a Sentence
Noun
the chipmunk retreated to its burrow to have its babies
Verb
The rabbit burrowed into the side of the hill.
The frogs burrow under the mud.
The mole burrowed its way under the ground.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Simon, The Conversation, 22 May 2025
These fly larvae, the screwworms or maggots, burrow into the flesh of the animal, which can cause serious damage, leading to infections and death in some instances.
—Connor Greene, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
Lisa McCarty, SELF, 21 May 2025
Another theory suggests that extreme winter weather may have caused their deaths while hibernating, as frogs burrow into the mud but can succumb to particularly harsh freezes.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burrow
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Noun
When the eggs hatch six weeks later, new cicada nymphs will fall from the trees and burrow back underground, starting the cycle again.
—Chris Simon, The Conversation, 22 May 2025
These fly larvae, the screwworms or maggots, burrow into the flesh of the animal, which can cause serious damage, leading to infections and death in some instances.
—Connor Greene, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
Verb
When an egg burrows into this tissue to start growing into a fetus, the blood vessels may bleed slightly.
—Lisa McCarty, SELF, 21 May 2025
Another theory suggests that extreme winter weather may have caused their deaths while hibernating, as frogs burrow into the mud but can succumb to particularly harsh freezes.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burrow
Cite this Entry
“Burrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burrow. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
burrow
1 of 2 noun
bur·row
ˈbər-ō 
ˈbə-rō
: a hole in the ground made by an animal (as a rabbit or fox) for shelter or protection
burrow
2 of 2 verb1
: to construct by tunneling
2
: to hide oneself in or as if in a burrow
3
: to move or enter by or as if by digging
burrower
noun
Medical Definition
burrow
noun
bur·row
ˈbər-(ˌ)ō, ˈbə-(ˌ)rō
: a passage or gallery formed in or under the skin by the wandering of a parasite (as the mite of scabies or a foreign hookworm)
burrow
verb
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