bur

views updated Jun 11 2018

bur / bər/ (also burr) • n. 1. a prickly seed case or flowerhead that clings to animals and clothes. ∎  [usu. as adj.] a plant that produces burs, e.g., bur reed.2. [as adj.] denoting wood containing knots or other growths that show a pattern of dense swirls in the grain when sawn, used for veneers and other decorative woodwork: bur walnut.3. variant spelling of burr (senses 2, 3, and 5).

bur

views updated May 18 2018

bur (ber) n.
1. a cutting instrument that fits in a dental handpiece (see drill). Burs are mainly used for cutting cavities in teeth, removing old restorations, and preparing teeth to receive crowns.

2. (burr) a surgical drill for cutting through bone. b. hole a circular hole drilled through the skull to release pressure inside the skull or to facilitate biopsies and other procedures.

bur

views updated May 29 2018

bur, burr3 rough or prickly seed-vessel or flower-head XIV. perh. of Scand. orig.; cf. Da. burre bur, burdock, Sw. kardborre burdock, perh. rel. to BRISTLE.

bur

views updated May 11 2018

burr1 rough edge on cut metal, etc. XVII. prob. same word as BUR.
Hence as vb. XIX.