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
Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 13 Aug. 2025
Then strain again through the cheesecloth as directed above.
Notes: Use a burr grinder or the supermarket coffee-aisle grinder to achieve a coarse to medium-coarse grind, or ask your local coffee shop to grind the beans for you.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
The alternative to burr grinders is blade grinders.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 14 July 2025
But its favorite mood, by far, is one of mild titillation, which arises whenever something slightly out of the ordinary occurs—a ball flies into the crowd, a baffled bird pecks at the service line, a champagne cork enters the field of play—and a burr of chatter rips round the court.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for burr
Noun
The conventional wisdom is that flat burr grinders are precise, and conical burr grinders are more likely to show a balanced blend of grind sizes—and therefore bring out sweetness, depth, and chocolate.
—Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 13 Aug. 2025
Then strain again through the cheesecloth as directed above.
Notes: Use a burr grinder or the supermarket coffee-aisle grinder to achieve a coarse to medium-coarse grind, or ask your local coffee shop to grind the beans for you.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
The alternative to burr grinders is blade grinders.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 14 July 2025
But its favorite mood, by far, is one of mild titillation, which arises whenever something slightly out of the ordinary occurs—a ball flies into the crowd, a baffled bird pecks at the service line, a champagne cork enters the field of play—and a burr of chatter rips round the court.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for burr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burr
Noun
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Both drinks start with gin, but while the Negroni uses Campari’s bright bitter orange for its trademark bitterness, the Remember the Alimony uses the broodier Cynar, similarly bitter but at a lower and more vegetal hum, flavored with, among other things, artichokes.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
4 Oct. 2025
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In Ruidoso, New Mexico, the pounding hooves of racehorses have entranced crowds from across Texas and New Mexico every summer, pumping in millions of dollars from the All-American Derby, Oaks and Futurity races and the steady hum of seasonal jobs that carry this mountain village.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Gardeners know pollinators are essential, especially those industrious bees buzzing tirelessly in and out of squash blossoms and trumpet vines.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
6 Oct. 2025
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Spaces to roam are flanked by a central courtyard restaurant that buzzes with diners who feast over The House’s signature lobster pasta, moquecas (Brazilian fish stew), and cassava gnocchi.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But the other people who live nearby may not be so easily swayed by those adorable puppy dog eyes or precious purrs and might get very irritated.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
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Best Dice Game For a purr-fectly good time with friends, roll the dice and let the games begin.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Marina Bay track layout is tight and twisty, leaving little room for error as the 20 drivers zip through the streets.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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After zipping his bag, Manchester started moving the crew to the cooler.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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High in the hills near the Myanmar border, Ban Rak Thai greets the morning with the smell of oolong and the soft rustle of tea leaves.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
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As Denver’s locker room echoes with the empty rustles of equipment staffers, Jahdae Barron lingers.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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There were whispered mentions of prison, alcoholism, domestic abuse.—
Rachel Linden,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
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Samira, a 19-year-old student from Kabul, was in a religious education class on Wednesday when a cleaner entered the room and whispered something to her teacher, who ran out, and then came back minutes later, beaming with her phone.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burr. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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