: a hole or excavation in the ground made by an animal (such as a rabbit) for shelter and habitation
burrowed; burrowing; burrows
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
3
: to conceal oneself in or as if in a burrow
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
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
Ashley Parks, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025
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
New Atlas, 15 Mar. 2025
Heavy-duty machines with rotating shovels burrowed into the snow, creating a network of some two dozen tunnels.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burrow
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Noun
According to folklore, if Phil sees his shadow and retreats to his burrow, winter will persist for another six weeks.
—Ashley Parks, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025
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
Verb
View 9 Images View gallery - 9 images Following the recent launch of the impressive, all-new X-Dome series, Durston has burrowed back in the workshop to tweak and lighten some of its already-svelte existing tent models.
—New Atlas, 15 Mar. 2025
Heavy-duty machines with rotating shovels burrowed into the snow, creating a network of some two dozen tunnels.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burrow
Cite this Entry
“Burrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burrow. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
burrow
1 of 2 noun
bur·row
ˈbər-ō 
ˈbə-rō
: a hole in the ground made by an animal (as a rabbit or fox) for shelter or protection
burrow
2 of 2 verb1
: 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
burrow
noun
bur·row
ˈbər-(ˌ)ō, ˈbə-(ˌ)rō
: 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
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