plural burners
1
: one that burns: such as
a
: the part of a fuel-burning or heat-producing device (such as a furnace or stove) where the flame or heat is produced
b
: a device for recording data on an optical disk
2
: an athlete who possesses great speed
3
: burner phone
… I leaned over and checked the glove box. There were two cell phones in there, both pre-paid burners with a set number of pre-paid minutes, both still in their drugstore packaging, effectively untraceable if bought with cash …—Lee Child
4
medical : stinger sense 4
He missed two games late in the season because of what athletic trainers call "cervical burners," a fairly appropriate description of the pain that would originate in Wadsworth's neck and shoot down his body.—Emily Dorman
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Examples of burner in a Sentence

The burner on the furnace isn't working. The computer comes equipped with a CD burner.
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.
While most griddles have a series of straight burners with plenty of space between, the Steelfire has two sources of fire shaped a bit like a KitchenAid paddle attachment, following the shape of the cooktop. — Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026 The kitchen comes equipped with a triple-burner gas stove, sink and 190-L fridge/freezer. — New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026 What exactly is the point of these palate burners, and who gets actual pleasure from drinking whiskey bottled over 135 proof? — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2026 That matters for home cooks trying to replicate restaurant results on a home burner. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for burner

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of burner was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Burner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burner. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

: one that burns: as
a
: the part of a fuel-burning or heat-producing device (as a furnace or stove) where a flame or heat is produced
b
: a device for recording data on an optical disk

Medical Definition

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