[burr] n [ME burre; akin to OE byrst bristle--more at bristle] (14c) 1 usu bur a: a rough or prickly envelope of a fruit b: a plant that bears burs
2. a: something that sticks or clings "a ~ in the throat" b: hanger-on
3: an irregular rounded mass; esp: a tree burl
4: a thin ridge or area of roughness produced in cutting or shaping metal
5. a: a trilled uvular /r/ as used by some speakers of English esp. in northern England and in Scotland b: a tongue-point trill that is the usual Scottish /r/
6. a: a small rotary cutting tool b usu bur : a bit used on a dental drill 7: a rough humming sound: whir -- burred adj
[2]burr vi (1798) 1: to speak with a burr
2: to make a whirring sound ~ vt 1: to pronounce with a burr
2. a: to form into a projecting edge b: to remove burrs from -- burr.er n