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
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
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Recent Examples of burr
Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 21 Feb. 2025
Instead of violently slashing your beans into inconsistent shards, a burr grinder breaks them down into a consistent, sandy pile by methodically rotating them against an abrasive surface.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 11 July 2024
Insert the portafilter underneath the conical burr grinder and the machine will dose out the perfect amount of coffee grounds.
—Jaina Grey, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2025
In the elegant study—a former home theater—a vintage burr yew wood desk holds court.
—Busola Evans, Architectural Digest, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for burr
Noun
In addition, the coffee and espresso maker has a conical burr grinder with 13 settings, but it can be bypassed to use ground coffee instead to make a pot or cup of coffee.
—Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 21 Feb. 2025
Instead of violently slashing your beans into inconsistent shards, a burr grinder breaks them down into a consistent, sandy pile by methodically rotating them against an abrasive surface.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 11 July 2024
Insert the portafilter underneath the conical burr grinder and the machine will dose out the perfect amount of coffee grounds.
—Jaina Grey, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2025
In the elegant study—a former home theater—a vintage burr yew wood desk holds court.
—Busola Evans, Architectural Digest, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for burr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burr
Verb
-
Think mountain towns that hum in winter and hibernate in summer (hello, ski resorts turned hiking paradises).—
Jordi Lippe-McGraw,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
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Because the vagus nerve runs past the vocal cords, there’s some thought that humming could stimulate the vagus nerve (and therefore parasympathetic nervous system), which might offer calming effects, says Gordon-Elliott.—
Caroline C. Boyle,
USA Today,
18 May 2025
Noun
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The three of them shared head bonks, muzzle rubs, purrs, and cuddling!!—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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Seely’s voice brings in a slice of gritty wisdom, Dasher’s vocal purrs with sweetness, while Dasher offers up both humor and wit.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The past few days also buzzed with celebrity appearances across the globe.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
27 May 2025
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This is an excellent time to set out for this buzzing city on Puget Sound.—
Bailey Berg,
AFAR Media,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
The usual rustles—of people shifting in their chairs, reaching for water bottles, pulling out cellphones, or opening laptops to check email—stopped cold.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
21 Mar. 2019
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Somehow, this shell also manages to be bizarrely soft on the skin with almost no rustle.—
Adrienne So,
Wired News,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The film zips by at a pleasantly breakneck pace, never overstaying, lingering just long enough in the emotional moments to draw a tear or two.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
22 May 2025
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The asteroid will zip by at over 41,000 miles per hour, coming within just 120,000 miles from the Earth, according to the JPL's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Croatia is full of stunning places, but one island has become the summer destination people can’t stop whispering about: Hvar.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
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So tulips and roses allegedly conveyed passion, peonies whispered shyness, and a white violet or a daisy denoted innocence.—
Lynn Yaeger,
Vogue,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burr. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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