Bur

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Bur \Bur\, Burr \Burr\ (b[^u]r), n. [OE. burre burdock; cf. Dan.
     borre, OSw. borra, burdock, thistle; perh. akin to E. bristle
     (burr- for burz-), or perh. to F. bourre hair, wool, stuff;
     also, according to Cotgrave, "the downe, or hairie coat,
     wherewith divers herbes, fruits, and flowers, are covered,"
     fr. L. burrae trifles, LL. reburrus rough.]


     1. (Bot.) Any rough or prickly envelope of the seeds of
        plants, whether a pericarp, a persistent calyx, or an
        involucre, as of the chestnut and burdock; a seed vessel
        having hooks or prickles. Also, any weed which bears burs.
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              Amongst rude burs and thistles.       --Milton.
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              Bur and brake and brier.              --Tennyson.
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     2. The thin ridge left by a tool in cutting or shaping metal.
        See {Burr}, n., 2.
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     3. A ring of iron on a lance or spear. See {Burr}, n., 4.
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     4. The lobe of the ear. See {Burr}, n., 5.
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     5. The sweetbread.
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     6. A clinker; a partially vitrified brick.
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     7. (Mech.)
        (a) A small circular saw.
        (b) A triangular chisel.
        (c) A drill with a serrated head larger than the shank; --
            especially a small drill bit used by dentists.
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     8. [Cf. Gael. borr, borra, a knob, bunch.] (Zool.) The round
        knob of an antler next to a deer's head. [Commonly written
        {burr}.]
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     {Bur oak} (Bot.), a useful and ornamental species of oak
        ({Quercus macrocarpa}) with ovoid acorns inclosed in deep
        cups imbricated with pointed scales. It grows in the
        Middle and Western United States, and its wood is tough,
        close-grained, and durable.
  
     {Bur reed} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Sparganium}, having
        long ribbonlike leaves.
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From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  bur
       n 1: seed vessel having hooks or prickles [syn: {burr}]
       2: small bit used in dentistry or surgery [syn: {burr}]
       v : remove the burrs from [syn: {burr}]
       [also: {burring}, {burred}]