I. ˈbər.(ˌ)ō, ˈbə.(ˌ)rō, -ər.ə, -ə.rə, often -ər.əw or -ə.rəw+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English borugh, borow, perhaps from borugh borough — more at borough
1. : a hole in the ground made by certain animals (as rabbits) for shelter and habitation
2. : passage , gallery ; especially : one formed in or under the skin by the wandering of a parasite (as the mite of scabies or a foreign hookworm)
3. : a miserable dwelling : hovel , hole
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. archaic : to hide (as oneself) in or as if in a burrow — usually passive
2. : to produce like a burrow : construct by digging and tunneling
burrowed a dwelling in the side of the hill
he can burrow passages underneath a river bed — F.M.Godfrey
3. : to pass or extend like a burrow
the tunnel burrowed its way under the mountain
4. : to make a motion suggestive of burrowing with : snuggle , nestle
she burrows her grubby hand into mine
intransitive verb
1. : to conceal oneself in or lodge in a mean abode — used chiefly of persons
2.
a. of an animal : to dig a burrow
rats burrowing in the wall
b. : tunnel , delve , dig
he burrowed into his records
burrowing through the mass of reports
3.
a. of an animal : to progress through the earth by means of digging movements
many worms burrow freely in the surface soil
b. : to form and move along a tunnel in a specified direction
they burrowed under the wall
c. : to enter into as though through a hidden burrow
Communists burrowing into the labor unions
4. : to make a motion suggestive of burrowing : snuggle , nestle
burrowed against his back for warmth
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English borough, borgh, probably alteration of bergh barrow — more at barrow
archaic : barrow , hillock