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burr 1 of 2

noun

ˈbər How to pronounce burr (audio)
Definition of burrnext
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

burr

2 of 2

verb

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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of burr
Noun
Entry-level burr grinders run $30 to $150 and pay for themselves within weeks. — Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026 Burr grinders crush coffee beans evenly between two steel or ceramic burrs. — Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 May 2026 Naturalists note the golf course’s rolling hills host burr trees, cross country skiing trails, coyote paths and other scenic draws. — Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 16 May 2026 Their bestselling models use stainless steel blades, but Krups does offer burr grinders, too. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for burr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burr
  1. hum
  2. buzz
  3. purr
  4. zip
  5. rustle
  6. whisper
Noun
  • By fields of cotton and soybeans where his bees forage and pollinate, Foster Hensel pries open the lid of one of his beehives, setting off a rising hum from inside.
    — Drew Hawkins, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Inside one of American Royal’s vast new barns, the smell of fresh paint still lingers as the hum of whirring drills and construction equipment fills the space just over 15 days until its first event on the new campus.
    — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of hum
Verb
  • Flies buzz over the rotting carcass, which is riven by claw marks so unnaturally deep that no one can determine whomauledit.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
  • At the AfD’s final preelection rally Thursday in the state capital, Magdeburg, a crowd of 6,000 is buzzing.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of buzz
Noun
  • Highlights and experiences It is always a special event stepping out of Venice’s airport onto a pontoon and a polished mahogany water taxi that drops you off canalside near your hotel, after a purr through the Grand Canal.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Kimie Smothermon begins each day greeted by the squeals, chirps and purrs of nearly 400 guinea pigs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of purr
Verb
  • While there aren’t windows, open the outer canvas flap, keep the screen zipped, and let the light pour in.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Neutrinos, which are produced in the sun as well as other astrophysical sources and are constantly zipping through the Earth, are notoriously difficult to measure.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of zip
Noun
  • Still, Polk’s family found peace there, watching big owls swoop down and falling asleep to the rustle of two acres of trees.
    — Austyn Gaffney, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Manwel heard the gentle rustle of a hedge accepting the tube.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of rustle
Noun
  • Moore begins with a whisper and builds to a roar as Mona improvises a manic rant that involves rats and the plague.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Engineered around Qualcomm’s flagship 12-core Snapdragon X Elite processor, this Surface laptop delivers exceptional processing speed with whisper-quiet thermal efficiency.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of whisper

Browse Nearby Words

burps
burr
burred
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Cite this Entry

“Burr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burr. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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