burner

noun

burn·​er ˈbər-nər 

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

All huts, some of which accommodate up to 17 people, have kitchens with propane burners for cooking — propane is provided. —Margaret Jackson, The Denver Post, 13 Nov. 2024

To make quick work of it, Mock says to remove burners and place them in a sink of hot, soapy water. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024

God knows the burners that made the trek this year, after two years of extreme heat and then extreme mud, deserved to have a little fun. —Alden Wicker, WIRED, 17 Sep. 2024

Investigators determined that Eckley had purchased that vehicle under an alias, used a burner cellphone and paid cash for it. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing burner

• back burner
• barn burner
• Bunsen burner
• burner account
• burner phone
• front burner
• on the back burner
• on the front burner

Kids Definition

burner

noun

burn·​er ˈbər-nər 

: 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 

: stinger sense 2