burrow

noun

bur·row | \ ˈbər-(ˌ)ō

; ˈbə-(ˌ)rō\

Definition of burrow

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a hole or excavation in the ground made by an animal (such as a rabbit) for shelter and habitation

burrow

verb

burrowed; burrowing; burrows

Definition of burrow (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 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

2a : to construct by tunneling burrowed a dwelling

b : to penetrate by means of a burrow The tunnel burrows its way under the mountain.

3 : to make a motion suggestive of burrowing with : nestle burrows her hand into mine

intransitive verb

1 : to conceal oneself in or as if in a burrow

2a : 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 make a motion suggestive of burrowing : snuggle, nestle burrowed against his back for warmth

Other Words from burrow Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about burrow

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Synonyms for burrow

Synonyms: Noun

den, hole, house, lair, lodge

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: Noun

Another owl was discovered dead near its burrow, and a third disappeared that year and was presumed killed. — David Streitfeld, New York Times, "As Google Feeds Cats, Owl Lovers Cry Foul," 26 May 2018 Heather Green, a spokeswoman for the county who works for the Desert Conservation Program, said the earliest that Mojave Max has emerged from his burrow in his years as a seasonal forecaster is Feb. 14. — David Montero, latimes.com, "How do you know it's springtime in Vegas? By waiting for Mojave Max to emerge," 29 Mar. 2018 Williams added that the department conducts preventive baiting, and began a pilot program to place dry ice into rodent burrows in parks or other green spaces to suffocate rats. — Travis Fedschun, Fox News, "Chicago named 'rat capital' of the country amid rodent complaint spike," 22 July 2018 The other worm was found in 2002 in a fossil rodent burrow near the Kolyma River. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Fox News, "Russian worms frozen for nearly 42,000 years alive and well, scientists say," 27 July 2018 One of those places is Oregon’s Cannon Beach, where a puffin stands outside a nesting burrow near the top of Haystack Rock. — Morning Brief, The Seattle Times, "Puffins are a dwindling treasure in Cannon Beach, plus Costco fans try to #SaveThePolishDog | Thursday Morning Brief, July 12," 12 July 2018 As part of the study, all active burrows were checked every six months. — Leanda Mason, National Geographic, "World’s Oldest Known Spider Dies at 43, With Lesson for Us," 30 Apr. 2018 Wardens said some people wander off the paths and block the birds’ burrows, preventing puffins from feeding their chicks. — Katherine Lam, Fox News, "Photographers on Skomer Island are crushing puffins to death while trying to take pictures, wardens say," 31 July 2018 Triatomines are nocturnal and tend to live in cracks and holes in rocks and buildings; underneath porches, concrete, rock, wood, brush piles, and tree bark; or in rodent nests or animal burrows. — Bartie Scott, Teen Vogue, "Disease Spread by Kissing Bug Could Become More Common in the U.S.," 21 Aug. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Parasitic mites had burrowed under her skin, living and laying eggs all over her body. — Kristine Phillips, ajc, "She modeled in New York and worked for the Navy. At 93, parasites ate her alive at a Georgia nursing home.," 2 May 2018 Along with the scientific instruments being sought, engineers and scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have already been working for more than a year to develop a specialized cutting saw that can burrow at least 10cm into the ice. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "NASA asks for Europa lander science experiments—and that’s a big deal," 18 May 2018 The heat-flow probe will be burrowing down almost 16 feet (five meters) into the Martian surface, deeper than any probe in history. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "InSight Lander Sending Back First Mars Photos," 7 Dec. 2018 The Kremlin has successfully burrowed into the United Nations organization known as the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala, or CICIG. — Mary Anastasia O’grady, WSJ, "Russia’s Latin American Offensive," 2 Dec. 2018 The only way to connect the two main buildings was by burrowing down, and the first stage of construction involved more than a year of excavation, during which 9,000 tons of amphibolite, a metamorphic rock, were relocated. — Natalia Rachlin, WSJ, "A New Museum is Putting This Swiss Alps Town on the Map," 12 Dec. 2018 Advertisement Iguanas have burrowed into sewer lines and under roads, popped up in toilets and shopping centers. — Linda Robertson, miamiherald, "South Florida is suffering from an iguana infestation. A solution? Think barbecue.," 11 July 2018 Yet, despite the need to burrow, New Yorkers tend to get a little stir-crazy when holed up in our apartment for longer than a day. — Ariel Okin, Vogue, "8 Romantic Winter Weekend Getaways From New York City," 29 Dec. 2018 InSight will be the first probe to explore the interior of Mars, using a specialized seismometer to measure S-waves of Marsquakes and a drill to burrow 16 feet into the ground to measure heat flow. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "NASA's InSight Sticks Its Martian Landing," 26 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'burrow.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.