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

Just as various characters in Pine Valley might get front-burner stories for weeks at a time, so too did the Vulgate shift its gaze from one character to another. —Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

Then, remove greasy burners and grates and soak them in hot, soapy water in the sink. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 June 2026

Step 4 Prepare a grill for medium-high indirect heat (for a gas grill, set one or two burners to low; for a charcoal grill, bank most of the coals on one side); lightly oil grate with vegetable oil. —Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 June 2026

The kitchen also comes stocked with a standard dual-burner camping stove and a 180-degree awning overhead. —New Atlas, 2 June 2026

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