burner

noun

burn·​er ˈbər-nər How to pronounce burner (audio)
plural burners
1
: one that burns: such as
a
: the part of a fuel-burning or heat-producing device (such as a furnace or stove) where the flame or heat is produced
b
: a device for recording data on an optical disk
2
: an athlete who possesses great speed
3
: burner phone
… I leaned over and checked the glove box. There were two cell phones in there, both pre-paid burners with a set number of pre-paid minutes, both still in their drugstore packaging, effectively untraceable if bought with cash …Lee Child
4
medical : stinger sense 4
He missed two games late in the season because of what athletic trainers call "cervical burners," a fairly appropriate description of the pain that would originate in Wadsworth's neck and shoot down his body.Emily Dorman

see also burner account

Examples of burner in a Sentence

The burner on the furnace isn't working. The computer comes equipped with a CD burner.
Recent Examples on the Web Our testers’ kids enjoyed the stovetop’s pretend burners with boiling sounds, two turnable knobs on the oven, a cupboard with magnetic doors, and more fun features. Katrina Cossey, Parents, 1 Mar. 2024 The day after a disheartening Saturday-night loss to formerly winless Long Island University, the Miami Hurricanes ignited the burners, fired up the Mark Light Field crowd and mounted an offensive attack that tied a program record en route to a 22-5 victory over the Sharks. Susan Miller Degnan, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2024 The federal agency on Jan. 25 released a preliminary report stating that before the balloon hit the ground, the craft was already deflated with the burner on. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024 Mountain lions are another deer predator that can turn on the burners in a big way; the best estimates place a cougar’s top speed at 40-50 mph. Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 28 Feb. 2024 An investigation later found the pilot failed to turn off the balloon's pilot light burners and installed improper upright rods in the balloon's basket. Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 17 Jan. 2024 There are six burners atop two ovens, and a marble slab makes rolling pastry feasible. Curbed, 17 Jan. 2024 There are six burners on the stove and a double oven; a marble counter for pastries; and a bar where guests can pull up a stool and watch the action. Curbed, 17 Jan. 2024 On July 6, she was contacted by a burner phone, and over the next three days there were sixteen interactions between Brainard-Barnes’ phone and the burner, court records show. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'burner.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of burner was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near burner

Cite this Entry

“Burner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burner. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

burner

noun
burn·​er ˈbər-nər How to pronounce burner (audio)
: one that burns: as
a
: the part of a fuel-burning or heat-producing device (as a furnace or stove) where a flame or heat is produced
b
: a device for recording data on an optical disk

Medical Definition

burner

noun
burn·​er ˈbər-nər How to pronounce burner (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on burner

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