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
At another plant in Singapore, Polen says, BD had been discarding about 200 needles each shift, for 50 years, because they’d get clogged in the sandblasting process used to remove metal burrs. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 22 May 2026 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 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
  • The ritual hum of leaf blowers fires up in the fall and marks the change in season as much as vibrant leaves falling from the trees.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Very occasionally, a scooter—piled high with passengers—hums past.
    — Claire Turrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of hum
Verb
  • The awards buzz may prove tough to come by at this point, given that Digger was hit with a C+ CinemaScore from audiences, landing as one of the lowest grades for Cruise’s career, and has polarized critics.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
  • One of the acts that made a big impression on the youngsters was the Allen Tolbert Unit, whose namesake would captivate them by buzzing up and down his guitar fretboard like a hummingbird in flight.
    — Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 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 Starship achieved the proper orbit, zipping along at 17,500 mph, flight controllers opted to play it safe and bring it back several hours sooner, after just a couple of laps.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Each new expansion is designed to zip in to the Pah-Pah base trailer tent, allowing owners to grow their camp without having to start over with a new trailer.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of zip
Noun
  • The full textile experience, after all, is multisensory—visual, tactile, and sometimes auditory (think of taffeta’s distinctive rustle).
    — Leslie Camhi, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of rustle
Noun
  • But these aren’t the delicate whispers of citrus and florals that dominate summer.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Dyson Air Purifier Early Prime Day Deal The Dyson Hushjet is a compact, small-form air purifier that's whisper-quiet but powerful.
    — Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 28 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 6 Oct. 2026.

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