burner

noun

burn·​er ˈbər-nər 

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

The new type of vortex burner can adjust the flame direction along the height of the combustion chamber. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025

Professional-Style Dual-Fuel Range Hudson's large range, with multiple burners and an integrated griddle, allows for the simultaneous prep of several dishes. —Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2025

The studio itself has dark hardwood floors, a custom Murphy bed, and an open-concept kitchen with stone countertops and, oddly, a three-burner island. —Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 27 Oct. 2025

The American-spec model’s slide-out galley is smaller than the original trailer’s, but still features a two-burner range, a sink, and plenty of counter space. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing burner

• back burner
• barn burner
• Bunsen burner
• burner account
• burner phone
• front burner
• on the back burner
• on the front burner

Rhymes for burner

• earner
• learner
• sterner
• afterburner

Kids Definition

burner

noun

burn·​er ˈbər-nər 

: 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 

: stinger sense 2