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. [1913 Webster]

Amongst rude burs and thistles. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Bur and brake and brier. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

2. The thin ridge left by a tool in cutting or shaping metal. See Burr, n., 2. [1913 Webster]

3. A ring of iron on a lance or spear. See Burr, n., 4. [1913 Webster]

4. The lobe of the ear. See Burr, n., 5. [1913 Webster]

5. The sweetbread. [1913 Webster]

6. A clinker; a partially vitrified brick. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

8. [Cf. Gael. borr, borra, a knob, bunch.]

(Zool.) The round knob of an antler next to a deer's head. [Commonly written burr.]

[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

bur

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Bur \Bur\, Burr \Burr\, 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. Also, any weed which bears burs.

Amongst rude burs and thistles. --Milton.

Bur and brake and brier. --Tennyson.

2. The thin ridge left by a tool in cutting or shaping metal. See Burr, n., 2.

3. A ring of iron on a lance or spear. See Burr, n., 4.

4. The lobe of the ear. See Burr, n., 5.

5. The sweetbread.

6. A clinker; a partially vitrified brick.

7. (Mech.)
   (a) A small circular saw.
   (b) A triangular chisel.
   (c) A drill with a serrated head larger than the shank; -- used by dentists.

8. [Cf. Gael. borr, borra, a knob, bunch.]

(Zo["o]l.) The round knob of an antler next to a deer's head. [Commonly written burr.]

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)