burr 1 of 2

noun

ˈbər How to pronounce burr (audio)
Definition of burrnext
as in hum
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion heard the burr of a distant engine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

burr

2 of 2

verb

as in to hum
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound the pitch burred past the batter's ear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of burr
Noun
Nothing works — the gun is seized up, the bolt sticking on some unforeseen burr of filament as the plastic slowly breaks in. — Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2026 Entry-level burr grinders run $30 to $150 and pay for themselves within weeks. — Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026 Dust electronics with a microfiber cloth, and don't forget to clean cords and cables, where dust, hair, and other debris can turn into dust bunnies that cling like burrs. — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026 At another plant in Singapore, Polen says, BD had been discarding about 200 needles each shift, for 50 years, because they’d get clogged in the sandblasting process used to remove metal burrs. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for burr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burr
  1. hum
  2. buzz
  3. purr
  4. zip
  5. rustle
  6. whisper
Noun
  • Usually, the town’s namesake island, far down in downstate Illinois, is quiet enough to hear the hum of the barges droning along the Mississippi River.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • The background hum comes from X-ray emissions detected by Chandra.
    — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 4 July 2026
Definition of hum
Verb
  • For the most recent earnings season, these forecasting fruit flies buzzed around modeling 12% earnings growth for the quarter.
    — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • As the train approaches Portland, the view shifts again, with bridges, waterways, and buzzing streets.
    — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
Definition of buzz
Noun
  • Wafting odors of 100-octane gasoline and rumbling purrs of V8 engines punched through the overcast morning at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday as the Velocity Invitational car meet entered its second day.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2026
  • That detail has led researchers to wonder whether the purr is partly a self-healing mechanism, a body soothing itself from the inside out.
    — Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
Definition of purr
Verb
  • Its compact size and functional interior and exterior pockets will make zipping through airport security or stopping for gas on road trips a breeze — no more digging through disorganized totes to locate your wallet and phone.
    — Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
  • Returning to the director’s chair 11 years after drug-cartel drama 600 Miles, Gabriel Ripstein keeps things zipping along in an entertaining satire which, once again, highlights the rottenness at international football’s core.
    — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of zip
Noun
  • All were filled with Chenier’s murmuring accordion, the rustle of a washboard player and slinky grooves.
    — Kevin McKeough, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026
  • Everything is quiet apart from the rustle of leaves and the gentle murmur of voices from the bar.
    — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of rustle
Noun
  • Test your knowledge of cruise controversies, wedding whispers and more in this week's American Culture Quiz.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Sleep in peace with this tower fan, which is whisper-quiet at 25 decibels.
    — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Definition of whisper

Browse Nearby Words

burps
burr
burred
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Burr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burr. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on burr

Nglish: Translation of burr for Spanish Speakers

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