burrow

1 of 2

noun

bur·​row ˈbər-(ˌ)ō 

ˈbə-(ˌ)rō

: a hole or excavation in the ground made by an animal (such as a rabbit) for shelter and habitation

burrow

2 of 2

verb

burrowed; burrowing; burrows

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a burrow

A fox had burrowed into the side of the hill.

b

: to progress by or as if by digging

burrowing through a pile of paperwork

2

: to make a motion suggestive of burrowing : snuggle, nestle

burrowed against his back for warmth

3

: to conceal oneself in or as if in a burrow

transitive verb

1

a

: to penetrate by means of a burrow

The tunnel burrows its way under the mountain.

b

: to construct by tunneling

burrowed a dwelling

2

: to make a motion suggestive of burrowing with : nestle

burrows her hand into mine

3

archaic : to hide in or as if in a hole in the ground made by an animal for shelter and habitation : to hide in or as if in a burrow

was burrowed in his cave

burrower noun

Synonyms

Noun

• den
• hole
• house
• lair
• lodge

Examples of burrow in a Sentence

Noun

the chipmunk retreated to its burrow to have its babies

Verb

The rabbit burrowed into the side of the hill.

The frogs burrow under the mud.

The mole burrowed its way under the ground.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The eggs hatch in six to ten weeks, the new nymphs fall to the earth, burrow underground and begin the wait for their emergence in another 13 or 17 years. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 9 May 2025

In addition, their burrows can damage or weaken levees, dikes and stream banks. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2025

Verb

Mole crabs burrow themselves in the intertidal swash zone but leave their antennae exposed above the surface to trap food like algae and plankton. —Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 8 May 2025

And Whitaker sometimes burrows into subplots with a tenacity that can make the bigger picture recede. —Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English borow

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3

Rhymes for burrow

• boro
• burro
• burrough
• furrow
• thorough
• yarborough

Kids Definition

burrow

1 of 2 noun

bur·​row ˈbər-ō 

ˈbə-rō

: a hole in the ground made by an animal (as a rabbit or fox) for shelter or protection

burrow

2 of 2 verb

1

: to construct by tunneling

2

: to hide oneself in or as if in a burrow

3

: to move or enter by or as if by digging

burrower noun

Medical Definition

burrow

noun

bur·​row ˈbər-(ˌ)ō, ˈbə-(ˌ)rō 

: a passage or gallery formed in or under the skin by the wandering of a parasite (as the mite of scabies or a foreign hookworm)

burrow verb