burrow

[ bur-oh, buhr-oh ]

noun

1. a hole or tunnel in the ground made by a rabbit, fox, or similar animal to live or hide in:

   Even in winter, chipmunks are active in their burrows and emerge on sunny days.

2. a place of retreat; shelter or refuge:

   His study is his burrow—we have to coax him out for every meal.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a hole or passage in, into, or under something:

   This small bird can survive cold Arctic nights by burrowing into the snow.

2. to lodge in an underground hole or tunnel:

   Many rodents burrow over the winter.

3. to hide:

   My cat likes to burrow under the rug and surprise me by jumping out as I walk past.

   Fleeing fame, he burrowed in a small town to focus on his family for a decade or so.

4. to proceed by or as if by digging:

   Buried under sediment, the clams can burrow up to the surface from a depth of 16 inches.

   Stray dogs burrowed through the piles of trash looking for scraps.

5. to penetrate deeply into something so as to investigate, exploit, or influence it, etc.:

   In her book on the brain, the writer burrows into the workings of an organ once deemed unknowable.

   These nasty computer viruses are adept at burrowing into your system.

verb (used with object)

1. to dig holes or passages into (a hill, mountainside, etc.):

   When earthworms burrow the soil, they aerate it and help plant roots to penetrate deeper.

2. to hide or shelter in a safe, snug space:

   The abandoned pup had burrowed itself in the straw of the barn out of pure fear.

   She burrowed the runt piglet in her coat till she had completed her chores in the barn.

3. to make by or as if by digging:

   We burrowed our way through the crowd.

verb phrase

1. 1. to penetrate or dig into or under something:

      The beetle’s larvae burrow in and feed on the living tissues just beneath the tree’s bark.

      All my historical research was spurred by this confidence that I could burrow in and find answers.

   2. to enter and become lodged or settled in a place:

      The enemy had taken over the town and burrowed in.

      He was just going to crash at my place for “a few days,” but he’s burrowed in.

   3. (of a political appointee) to be hired as a permanent civil servant when the administration that made the appointment leaves power:

      He was the appointed director of the agency, and later burrowed in as a manager.

burrow

/ ˈbʌrəʊ /

noun

1. a hole or tunnel dug in the ground by a rabbit, fox, or other small animal, for habitation or shelter
2. a small snug place affording shelter or retreat

verb

1. to dig (a burrow) in, through, or under (ground)
2. introften foll bythrough to move through by or as by digging

   to burrow through the forest

3. intr to hide or live in a burrow
4. intr to delve deeply

   he burrowed into his pockets

5. to hide (oneself)

Derived Forms

• ˈburrower, noun

Other Words From

• bur·row·er noun
• un·bur·rowed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of burrow¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English borow, earlier burh, of uncertain origin; perhaps from Old English gebeorg “refuge,” noun derivative of beorgan “to hide, protect, preserve” (compare late Middle English beri “burrow,” variant of earlier berg “refuge”); akin to Old English burgen “grave” (in the sense “place of protection for a body”); bury

Word History and Origins

Origin of burrow¹

C13: probably a variant of borough

Example Sentences

I would burrow and seek refuge in reading narrative stories and watching movies.

From Salon

The infestation cycle continues when the maggots emerge 10 days later, drop from the fruit and burrow two to three centimeters into the dirt to pupate.

From Los Angeles Times

The frayed performances push past the film’s surreal-sounding logline and, by the time credits roll, they burrow themselves deep within the hearts of the audience.

From Los Angeles Times

For that, Wainwright says he wants “to really burrow into someplace, and take as much time as I can.”

From Los Angeles Times

The condition is caused by a mite which burrows under the skin to lay eggs and is spread through close physical contact, bedding and clothes.

From BBC