burr UK /bɜː/US /bɝ/noun 12verb 3forms 3 noun12 •A sharp, pointy object, such as a sliver or splinter. •A small piece of material left on an edge after a cutting operation.You left a bunch of burrs on those parts yesterday. You've already been told not to miss the deburring operation. •A rough humming sound. •A uvular "r" sound, or (by extension) an accent characterized by this sound.“That man Glass has been with him again; I heard them talking through the door quite plain. Two separate voices: for James speaks low, with a burr, and the other voice was high and quavery.” — 1914 •A revolving disk or cone with abrasive surfaces used to grind hard products in a grinder or mill. •A burr knot or burl.We notice wild bees gathering sap in a burr of the third mango tree[.] — 2022 •The knot at the bottom of an antler. •A thin flat piece of metal, formed from a sheet by punching; a small washer put on the end of a rivet before it is swaged down. •(historical) A broad iron ring on a tilting lance just below the grip, to prevent the hand from slipping. •(historical) A metal ring at the top of the hand-rest on a spear.The front of it was defended by an iron-plate, called a vam-plat, that is, an avant-plate, and behind it was a broad iron ring, called a burr. — 1819 •The ear lobe. •Synonym of brough (“halo around the sun or moon”)Far burr, near rain; Near burr, far rain. — 1893 verb3 •To pronounce with a uvular "r". •To make a rough humming sound. •To grind using a burr (revolving disk or cone with abrasive surfaces). formsburred · burring · burrs
