BURR


Meaning of BURR in English

I. ˈbər noun

Etymology: Middle English burre; akin to Old English byrst bristle — more at bristle

Date: 14th century

1. usually bur

a. : a rough or prickly envelope of a fruit

b. : a plant that bears burs

2.

a. : something that sticks or clings

a burr in the throat

b. : hanger-on

3. : an irregular rounded mass ; especially : 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 especially 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. usually bur : a bit used on a dental drill

7. : a rough humming sound : whir

• burred ˈbərd adjective

II. verb

Date: 1798

intransitive verb

1. : to speak with a burr

2. : to make a whirring sound

transitive verb

1. : to pronounce with a burr

2.

a. : to form into a projecting edge

b. : to remove burrs from

• burr·er noun

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.