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

abbreviation for

1. Myanmar (international car registration)

bur

²

/ 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. a variant spelling of burr 3 burr 4

verb

1. tr to remove burs from

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

from Burma

Origin of bur²

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

Example Sentences

It was going to be made for television, and somehow, it was unplugged from PBS, bur they already started pre-production, so they decided, we’ll make it as a Merchant Ivory film.

From Salon

Van Pelt repeated the method on 11 more trees, including bur oak, scarlet oak and the pecan.

From Seattle Times

Over plates of bur and cups of hot tea, Somali families from around the Seattle area met up at NewHolly Gathering Hall last Friday to celebrate the launch of the new books.

From Seattle Times

Each acorn was painted with colored bands to indicate its species: red oak, bur oak, black oak, white oak, swamp white oak, scarlet oak, pin oak, willow oak.

From New York Times

He has 152 yards and one touchdown on 28 carries, bur Wagner cautioned Murray’s mobility can present itself in a number of ways.

From Seattle Times