burr

¹

[ bur ]

noun

1. Also a protruding, ragged edge raised on the surface of metal during drilling, shearing, punching, or engraving.
2. a rough or irregular protuberance on any object, as on a tree.
3. a small, handheld, power-driven milling cutter, used by machinists and die makers for deepening, widening, or undercutting small recesses.
4. a lump of brick fused or warped in firing.

verb (used with object)

1. to form a rough point or edge on.
2. deburr.

burr

²

or bur

[ bur ]

noun

1. a washer placed at the head of a rivet.
2. a blank punched out of a piece of sheet metal.

burr

³

[ bur ]

noun

1. a pronunciation of the r- sound as a uvular trill, as in certain Northern English dialects.
2. a pronunciation of the r- sound as an alveolar flap or trill, as in Scottish English.
3. any pronunciation popularly considered rough or nonurban.
4. a whirring noise.

verb (used without object)

1. to speak with a burr.
2. to speak roughly, indistinctly, or inarticulately.
3. to make a whirring sound.

verb (used with object)

1. to pronounce (words, sounds, etc.) with a burr.

burr

⁴

or buhr

[ bur ]

noun

1. burstone.

Burr

⁵

[ bur ]

noun

1. Aaron, 1756–1836, vice president of the U.S. 1801–05.

burr

¹

/ bɜː /

noun

1. a washer fitting around the end of a rivet
2. a blank punched out of sheet metal

burr

²

/ bɜː /

noun

1. phonetics an articulation of (r) characteristic of certain English dialects, esp the uvular fricative trill of Northumberland or the retroflex r of the West of England
2. a whirring sound

verb

1. to pronounce (words) with a burr
2. to make a whirring sound

burr

³

/ bɜː /

noun

1. a small power-driven hand-operated rotary file, esp for removing burrs or for machining recesses
2. a rough edge left on a workpiece after cutting, drilling, etc
3. a rough or irregular protuberance, such as a burl on a tree
4. a burl on the trunk or root of a tree, sliced across for use as decorative veneer

noun

1. See bur
   a variant spelling of bur

verb

1. to form a rough edge on (a workpiece)
2. to remove burrs from (a workpiece) by grinding, filing, etc; deburr

burr

⁴

/ bɜː /

noun

1. See buhrstone
   short for buhrstone
2. a mass of hard siliceous rock surrounded by softer rock

Burr

⁵

/ bɜː /

noun

1. BurrAaron17561836MUSPOLITICS: statesman Aaron . 1756–1836, US vice-president (1800–04), who fled after killing a political rival in a duel and plotted to create an independent empire in the western US; acquitted (1807) of treason

Word History and Origins

Origin of burr¹

First recorded in 1605–15; spelling variant of bur ¹

Origin of burr²

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English burrewez (plural), buruhe “circle,” variant of brough “round tower”; broch

Origin of burr³

First recorded in 1750–60; apparently both imitative and associative, the sound being thought of as rough like a bur

Origin of burr⁴

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English burre, probably so called from its roughness

Word History and Origins

Origin of burr¹

C16 (in the sense: broad ring on a spear): variant of burrow (in obsolete sense: borough )

Origin of burr²

C18: either special use of bur (in the sense: rough sound) or of imitative origin

Origin of burr³

C14: variant of bur

Origin of burr⁴

C18: probably from bur , from its qualities of roughness

Example Sentences

“The tragic high mortality rate in your state’s nursing homes shows more was needed but wasn’t provided,” Burr told Levine.

From Washington Post

Burr was one of a number of senators to come under investigation last year for stock sales they made before the pandemic’s effect on the markets.

From Washington Post

“As the country continues to concentrate efforts on battling the challenges presented by covid-19, Senator Burr’s focus will remain on the safety and security of North Carolinians and the United States as a whole,” Fisher said.

From Washington Post

Although the Justice Department has closed its investigations into three other senators, the investigation of Burr is still in progress.

From Fortune

Burr’s office said the lawmaker notified the Senate Ethics Committee before the sale.

From ProPublica

Weeks retained an unparalleled legal team, which included bitter political rivals Hamilton and Burr.

From The Daily Beast

“Burr and Corker and I will be working closely together on everything,” McCain said.

From The Daily Beast

McCain said he, Corker, and Burr are also interested in pursuing more vigorous oversight of the Iran deal as well.

From The Daily Beast

The plan unveiled last January by Hatch, Coburn and Burr is a good foundation.

From The Daily Beast

Certainly Weaver has been the burr under Palmer's saddle for almost his entire career.

From The Daily Beast

The old dog stuck to her like a burr, and she had not the heart to take up a stick to enforce obedience.

From Project Gutenberg

Although the trial involved many political entanglements, Burr was finally acquitted.

From Project Gutenberg

Philip Burr led them into a back street, where his own handsome automobile was placed at their service.

From Project Gutenberg

Then there came a jar, a burr of wheels and springs, and the tinkle of silver-toned metal striking nine.

From Project Gutenberg

It simply walked straight over it, and when it had passed there was not a burr left on the stalks.

From Project Gutenberg