burro

noun

bur·​ro ˈbər-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce burro (audio) ˈbu̇r- How to pronounce burro (audio)
ˈbə-(ˌ)rō
plural burros
Synonyms of burronext
: donkey sense 1
The farm boasted an array of animals including goats, a burro, geese, ducks, chickens and an Irish water spaniel named Mr. Dooley …—Dorothy and John Tarrant
especially : a small donkey used as a pack animal
… bought a burro on which to pack their kit. —Frank Norris
Figures darker than the gloom approached and took shape, and in the light turned out to be those of a white man and a heavily packed burro. —Zane Grey

Synonyms of burro

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Examples of burro in a Sentence

used a burro to carry the supplies
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Bureau of Land Management's fiscal 2026 schedule called for gathering more than 14,500 wild horses and burros. — Brian Unger, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 In March, federal officials estimated roughly 3,900 wild burros roamed there – far above the agency’s management target of about 450 animals. — Harry Bruinius, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Oct. 2026 Five burros were killed and a driver was injured when a herd wandered onto the 215 Freeway in 2020. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 Come for the design, stay for the tagliolini cacio e burro (fresh pasta with butter and cheese). — Laura Itzkowitz, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for burro

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, irregular from borrico, from Late Latin burricus small horse

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of burro was in 1775

Rhymes for burro

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Browse Nearby Words

burr mill
burro
burro's tail
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Burro.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burro. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

burro

noun
bur·​ro ˈbər-ō How to pronounce burro (audio) ˈbu̇r- How to pronounce burro (audio)
ˈbə-rō
plural burros
: a small donkey often used as a pack animal

More from Merriam-Webster on burro

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about burro

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