“Birr” or “Bur” or “Burr”

Overview

birr / bur / burr are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

birr: (noun) the basic unit of money in Ethiopia; equal to 100 cents.

bur: (noun) seed vessel having hooks or prickles. (noun) small bit used in dentistry or surgery. (verb) remove the burrs from.

burr: (noun) rough projection left on a workpiece after drilling or cutting. (noun) United States politician who served as vice president under Jefferson; he mortally wounded his political rival Alexander Hamilton in a duel and fled south (1756-1836). (noun) rotary file for smoothing rough edges left on a workpiece.

Pronunciation

birr: b·ER

bur: b·ER

burr: b·ER

Trends

📈 See Trends