burrow Definition
bur·row (bʉr′ō)
noun
- a hole or tunnel dug in the ground by an animal
- any similar passage or hole for shelter, refuge, etc.
Etymology: ME burgh (see borough), infl. by bergh, hill, berwen, to defend, take refuge
intransitive verb
- to make a burrow; dig (in, into, under, etc.)
- to live or hide in or as in a burrow
- to delve or search, as if by digging
transitive verb
- to make burrows in (the ground)
- to make by burrowing
- to hide or shelter in or as in a burrow
burrow Synonyms
burrow Usage Examples
Object
- owl: Perhaps the cleverest of all are the burrowing owls from the prairies of the America.
- animal: Burrowing animals, especially rabbits, are also a problem.
- specie: Burrowing species, may be confined to a particular kind of soil ( Huggett 1995 ).
Converse of object
- excavate: Humboldt's penguins excavate burrows to nest in, usually about 3 meters in length.
- dig: These allow them to dig burrows up to 10m in length.
- nest: Almost every bush seemed to provide shelter for a nesting burrow.
- enter: The female mink is just small enough to enter the water vole burrows, leaving the vole with no refuge.
Preposition: into
- skin: Harvest mite larvae do not burrow into the skin, nor suck blood.
- earth: Beaver may also burrow into soft earth on the banks of streams or ponds, creating one or more chambers for rest and feeding.
Adjective modifier
- underground: Food is stored in underground burrows or occasionally in disused bird nests.
- deep: These funny looking fish actually dig deep burrows in the sandy seabed.
Modifies a noun
entrance: Hoover never knowingly passed any burrow entrance without stopping to examine it.
Noun used with modifier
- rabbit: A fox earth can be an enlarged rabbit burrow, a dug out under a tree or similar.
- vole: The female mink is just small enough to enter the water vole burrows, leaving the vole with no refuge.
- worm: In pigs adult worms burrow into the mucosa of the small intestine where the female produces larvae.
- nest: Follow the roads around the airport where you will see a number of cones each marking nest burrows of the owls.
Adjective complement
deep: They need to escape chaos not burrow deeper into the pit.
Preposition: in
- mud: Peanut worms and spoon worms burrow in mud and sand, and ribbon worms live beneath stones on the seabed.
- sand: They live in large burrows in the sand beneath the dwarf mangroves whose leaves form their primary diet.
- soil: The larvae live in vertical burrows in the soil, lying in wait for passing prey.
Browse dictionary entries near burrow
- ‹ Burroughs
- ‹ burro
- ‹ burrito
- ‹ burr
- ‹ burqa
- ‹ burp gun
- ‹ burp
- ‹ burnt umber
- ‹ burnt sienna
- ‹ burnt orange

