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burr¹

(bûr)

1. A rough edge or area remaining on material, such as metal, after it has been cast, cut, or drilled.

2. Variant of bur¹.

tr.v. burred, burr·ing, burrs

1. To form a burr on.

2. To remove burrs from.

[Variant of BUR¹.]

burr² also bur

(bûr)

1. A trilling of the letter r, usually made with the tip of the tongue and characteristic of Scottish speech.

2. A buzzing or whirring sound.

v. burred, burr·ing, burrs also burs

v.tr.

To pronounce with a burr.

v.intr.

1. To speak with a burr.

2. To make a buzzing or whirring sound.

[Imitative.]

bur²

(bûr)

n. & v.

Variant of burr².

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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