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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Place the pan on a burner, then bring the water to a boil. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Jan. 2025 The direct heating also comes into play with temperature control since the burner doesn't have to adjust to higher or lower temperatures. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2024 Instead, the risotto is cooked in cylinders the size of oil drums, heated by portable gas burners, and stirred with long wooden paddles that resemble oars. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024 Sauté: Sautéing involves cooking food in a pan over direct heat, typically on a stovetop burner. Johna Burdeos, Health, 20 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for burner 

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 11 Feb. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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