as in hum
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion
heard the burr of a distant engine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to hum
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound
the pitch burred past the batter's ear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of burr
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025
Someone used a chainsaw to illegally cut down five burr and basswood trees along the walking and bike paths at Cedar Lake, causing thousands of dollars in damage, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board says.
—Axios Twin Cities, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025
The heavy-duty burr grinders are designed to withstand a home next to a hot stove for years.
—Andrew Watman, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Its high-end features are hard to beat, like its customizable conical burr grinder and intelligent dosing system to automatically calculate the amount of ground coffee based on your last grind and tamp.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burr
Noun
Blade grinders are far less consistent, breaking beans unevenly rather than accurately shaving them into an even ground size and shape like a burr grinder.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025
Someone used a chainsaw to illegally cut down five burr and basswood trees along the walking and bike paths at Cedar Lake, causing thousands of dollars in damage, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board says.
—Axios Twin Cities, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025
The heavy-duty burr grinders are designed to withstand a home next to a hot stove for years.
—Andrew Watman, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Its high-end features are hard to beat, like its customizable conical burr grinder and intelligent dosing system to automatically calculate the amount of ground coffee based on your last grind and tamp.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burr
Verb
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Hiring has kept up a solid, albeit slower pace, humming along with less disruption than some economists anticipated.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
1 Aug. 2025
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The Nets could never find a way to get their offense humming in minutes.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
21 July 2025
Noun
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Fluffy robot pets that purr for your attention or tell you a joke.—
Joseph Coughlin,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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And yes, the dogs bark, quietly, and the cats purr.—
The Tennessean,
The Tennessean,
11 July 2025
Verb
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The new shoes have an early discount that brings their price down to as little as $50, and they’re already getting buzz from shoppers.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Alternately — extending this metaphor another way — talking to him while activity at Kojima Productions buzzes in the background over a video interview suggests having a peek inside a spy agency.—
Nick Newman,
IndieWire,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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There’s the rustle of tea leaves and paper as first one, then another spoonful of tea leaves is taken from a paper bag and poured into the teapot, then the sound of water being poured over the tea leaves, but such sounds can only be heard in the kitchen.—
Katie Yee
July 25,
Literary Hub,
25 July 2025
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When that harmony hits, the sale becomes a symphony: the crack of the register, the rustle of the bag, the quiet thrill of being chosen.—
Joel Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Verb
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After top receiver Courtland Sutton dropped a dime from Nix on a fade route in Saturday’s preseason game, the two re-lit their connection Wednesday, with Nix scrambling to his right in one red-zone period and zipping a ball past a diving Ja’Quan McMillian to Sutton in the end zone.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
13 Aug. 2025
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After the stop in Chicago, the Tigers zip northwest to Minneapolis to face the Twins (who took two of three in Detroit last week) for the final four games of the season series on Aug. 14-17.—
Ryan Ford,
Freep.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Along the coast, the Curonian Spit unfurls like a ribbon—golden dunes shifting under languid winds and pine forests whispering above the sea.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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Nine-year-old Cole Morris cowered in between his grandfather and seven of their family members, whispering prayers as rising floodwaters lapped furiously at the stairs of their attic.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burr. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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