burr
1 of 2noun
ˈbər 
1
usually bur
a
: a rough or prickly envelope of a fruit
b
: a plant that bears burs
2
a
: something that sticks or clings
a burr in the throat
b
: hanger-on
3
: an irregular rounded mass
especially : a tree burl
4
: a thin ridge or area of roughness produced in cutting or shaping metal
5
a
: a trilled uvular \\r\\ as used by some speakers of English especially in northern England and in Scotland
b
: a tongue-point trill that is the usual Scottish \\r\\
6
a
: a small rotary cutting tool
b
usually bur : a bit used on a dental drill
7
: a rough humming sound : whir
burred
ˈbərd
adjective burr
2 of 2verb
burred; burring; burrs
intransitive verb
1
: to speak with a burr
2
: to make a whirring sound
transitive verb
1
: to pronounce with a burr
2
a
: to form into a projecting edge
b
: to remove burrs from
burrer noun
Synonyms
Noun
- buzz
- chirr
- churr
- drone
- hum
- purr
- thrum
- whir
- whirr
- whiz
- whizz
- zoom
Verb
- bumble
- buzz
- drone
- hum
- whir
- whirr
- whish
- whiz
- whizz
- zip
- zoom
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun a tool that can cut through steel leaving a smooth edge and no burrs heard the burr of a distant engine Verb the pitch burred past the batter's ear
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2022 At the climbing gym, young Elliot brings out one of these electric burr devices between burns on the Kilter Board and calmly tends to calluses on his palms and fingers. Alison Osius, Outside Online, 22 Aug. 2022 The rock could be as minor as a burr on a blade, but if it wasn’t eliminated or moved out of the way, the entire manufacturing process could be compromised. Lance Knight, Forbes, 13 June 2022 The soup that results is magnificently subtle, playing the delicate, fresh springlike taste of asparagus off the satisfying umami burr of the shiitake mushrooms. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 6 June 2022 This second book in the series features an ADHD heroine grappling with the messiness of her life and a silver fox swordmaker with a Scottish burr designed to give you chills. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2022 Like the Bambino, investing in a good conical burr grinder to go alongside the Rancilio Silvia is key. Lauren Joseph, Bon Appétit, 24 Feb. 2022 It’s five inches wider and three inches longer than the Bambino and includes a conical burr grinder, along with a hot water wand. Lauren Joseph, Bon Appétit, 24 Feb. 2022 After a few months, my geekiest coffee friend directed me to a next-level setup: a Hario V60 pour-over coffee maker (which is also what Benchakul uses in his shop), a Baratza Encore burr grinder and a scale. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2022 See More
Noun
Alithea has an accent, too, which is most definitely determinate in origin, being a Scottish burr. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2022 At the climbing gym, young Elliot brings out one of these electric burr devices between burns on the Kilter Board and calmly tends to calluses on his palms and fingers. Alison Osius, Outside Online, 22 Aug. 2022 The rock could be as minor as a burr on a blade, but if it wasn’t eliminated or moved out of the way, the entire manufacturing process could be compromised. Lance Knight, Forbes, 13 June 2022 The soup that results is magnificently subtle, playing the delicate, fresh springlike taste of asparagus off the satisfying umami burr of the shiitake mushrooms. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 6 June 2022 This second book in the series features an ADHD heroine grappling with the messiness of her life and a silver fox swordmaker with a Scottish burr designed to give you chills. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2022 Like the Bambino, investing in a good conical burr grinder to go alongside the Rancilio Silvia is key. Lauren Joseph, Bon Appétit, 24 Feb. 2022 It’s five inches wider and three inches longer than the Bambino and includes a conical burr grinder, along with a hot water wand. Lauren Joseph, Bon Appétit, 24 Feb. 2022 After a few months, my geekiest coffee friend directed me to a next-level setup: a Hario V60 pour-over coffee maker (which is also what Benchakul uses in his shop), a Baratza Encore burr grinder and a scale. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English burre; akin to Old English byrst bristle — more at bristle
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1798, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Phrases Containing burr
Kids Definition
burr
variant of bur
Medical Definition
burr
variant of bur
Biographical Definition
Burr
biographical name
ˈbər
Aaron 1756–1836 3rd vice president of the U.S. (1801–05)
burrs 1 of 2
noun
as in purrs
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion heard the burr of a distant engine Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- purrs
- hums
- rustles
- buzzes
- whispers
- churrs
- drones
- whirs
- thrums
- zooms
- chirrs
- whirrs
- sighs
- whizzes
- murmurs
- moans
- gurgles
- gasps
- babbles
- zips
- zings
- hisses
- susurruses
- coos
- susurrations
- suspirations
- whishes
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- yelps
- shrieks
- squeals
- screams
- squalls
- howls
- screeches
- yells
- roars
- bawls
burrs
2 of 2verb
as in zips
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound the pitch burred past the batter's ear Synonyms & Similar Words
- zips
- buzzes
- hums
- whirs
- whispers
- drones
- churrs
- whirrs
- whistles
- whizzes
- zooms
- currs
- bumbles
- hisses
- chirrs
- whishes
- purrs
- sighs
- thrums
- rustles
- coos
- murmurs
- wheezes
- fizzes
- whooshes
- swishes
- sizzles