hamburger

[ ham-bur-ger ]

noun

1. a sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground or chopped beef, usually in a roll or bun, variously garnished.
2. ground or chopped beef.
3. Also called Ham·burg steak [ham, -burg steyk]. a patty of ground or chopped beef, seasoned and fried or broiled.
4. Digital Technology. hamburger menu.

hamburger

/ ˈhæmˌbɜːɡə /

noun

1. a flat fried cake of minced beef, often served in a bread roll Also calledHamburger steakbeefburger

Word History and Origins

Origin of hamburger¹

First recorded in 1880–85; short for Hamburger steak or Hamburg steak, a dish that originated in Hamburg, Germany, the port city from which many Germans emigrated to the United States, or in New York City and was made popular by immigrant Germans in the 19th century in Greater New York; -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of hamburger¹

C20: shortened from Hamburger steak (that is, steak in the fashion of Hamburg )

Example Sentences

“My travels and the things that I’ve seen have certainly given me perspective and ultimately have given me an appreciation for what we have here, and being proud of it,” he said over that most American of lunches, a half-eaten hamburger and fries.

From Los Angeles Times

He pointed to a new study by the Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics at UC Berkeley that showed higher fast-food salaries led to modest price increases, just cents on the hamburger, and did not lead to job cuts.

From Los Angeles Times

“One bad hamburger, you can destroy McDonald’s.”

From Salon

Popular for decades as a street food, America's proudest culinary invention – the hamburger – debuted at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 alongside other novelties such as Dr. Pepper and ice cream.

From Salon

The primary communication the Surge is receiving from its gut is “hamburger time??”

From Slate