bur

¹

[ bur ]

noun

1. a rough, prickly case around the seeds of certain plants, as the chestnut or burdock.
2. any bur-bearing plant.
3. something that adheres like a bur.
4. Machinery. burr ¹( defs 1, 3 ).
5. Dentistry. a rotary cutting tool usually of steel or other hard metal shaped into a shank and a head, for removing carious material from teeth and preparing cavities for filling.
6. Surgery. a cutting tool resembling that of a dentist, used for the excavation of bone.

verb (used with object)

, burred, bur·ring.

1. to extract or remove burs from.

bur

²

[ bur ]

noun

1. burr ².

bur.

³

abbreviation for

1. bureau.

Bur.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. Burma ( def ).

bur

¹

/ bɜː /

noun

1. a seed vessel or flower head, as of burdock, having hooks or prickles
2. any plant that produces burs
3. a person or thing that clings like a bur
4. a small surgical or dental drill
5. See burr
   a variant spelling of burr 3 burr 4

verb

1. tr to remove burs from

BUR

²

abbreviation for

1. Myanmar (international car registration)

Bur.

³

abbreviation for

1. Myanmar (Burma)

bur

/ bûr /

1. A type of pseudocarp in which the outer surface possesses hooks or barbs. Burs become caught in the feathers or hair of animals, which then carry them away to disperse the seeds.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bur¹

1300–50; Middle English burre, apparently cognate with Danish burre, Norwegian, Swedish borre bur

Word History and Origins

Origin of bur¹

C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish burre bur, Swedish kardborre burdock

Origin of bur²

from Burma

Example Sentences

A person earning 10 dollars a week can see a 100% increase by getting a raise to 20 bucks a week—bur remains impoverished.

From The Daily Beast

Canary bur-rd seed will be very cheap this year, an' anny American wurrukin' man needn't go to bed hungry.

From Project Gutenberg

Riprisintatives iv th' Chicago packers insisted that in time canary bur-rds cud be taught to eat pork chops.

From Project Gutenberg

Here, with the help of their nearest neighbors, they built in a day a cabin of rough, bur-oak logs.

From Project Gutenberg

It is distinguished from others of the same species by the name of Cubbeer Bur, which was given it in honour of a famous saint.

From Project Gutenberg

Arbor, r′bur, n. the main support of a machine: an axis or spindle on which a wheel revolves.

From Project Gutenberg