burrow

1 of 2

noun

: 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
These hatch to produce maggots that burrow, or screw, into the flesh causing intense pain, injury and in some cases death to the affected animal. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025 The wind can sweep up spores in the loose dirt rodents leave near the mouths of burrows and carry them to nearby humans. Bymeredith Wadman, science.org, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
Once eaten by a human, the L3 larvae try to complete their life cycle by burrowing into tissue out of the intestines to get to the brain, traveling either through the blood or along nerves. Ars Technica, 11 Mar. 2025 Scientists think that plastics can disrupt this layer, burrowing between the tight junctions that hold the intestinal cells together. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for burrow

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of burrow was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Burrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burrow. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

burrow

1 of 2 noun
: 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

: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on burrow

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