burrow

verb

burrowed; burrowing; burrows

intransitive verb

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

2

: to make a motion suggestive of burrowing : snuggle, nestle

burrowed against his back for warmth

3

: to conceal oneself in or as if in a burrow

transitive verb

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

2

: to make a motion suggestive of burrowing with : nestle

burrows her hand into mine

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

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

Once grown, screwworms burrow into the soil, emerging as mature flies to restart the process. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 6 June 2026

The New World screwworm’s larvae can damage livestock by burrowing into the flesh of living animals, according to the Agriculture Department. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 5 June 2026

The female grunion burrows her body into the sand and lays her eggs. —Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 1 June 2026

The maggots, in particular, will burrow into the fruit, so throw out any infested apples. —Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 31 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3

Rhymes for burrow

• boro
• burro
• burrough
• furrow
• thorough
• yarborough

Kids 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 verb

1

: 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