birr

¹ American  

[bur] / bɜr /

noun

1. force; energy; vigor.

2. emphasis in statement, speech, etc.

3. a whirring sound.

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verb (used without object)

1. to move with or make a whirring sound.

birr ² American  

[beer] / bɪər /

noun

plural

birr

1. a paper money, silver coin, and monetary unit of Ethiopia, equal to 100 cents: replaced the Ethiopian dollar in 1976.

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birr ¹ British  

/ bɜː /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a whirring sound

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noun

1. a whirring sound

2. force, as of wind

3. vigour; energy

birr ² British  

/ bɜː /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit of Ethiopia, divided into 100 cents

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Etymology

Origin of birr

1275–1325; Middle English bire, bur, Old English byre strong wind; cognate with Icelandic byrr favorable wind; akin to bear ¹

Example Sentences

But as the telecoms sector has opened up, the country is embracing mobile phone digital payments in birr, the local currency.

From BBC

Monday's announcement saw Ethiopia’s currency, the birr, lose nearly a third of its value against the dollar.

From BBC

The birr was this week trading at 90 to $1 on the black market, compared to 53 in banks.

From Reuters

His bail was set at 60,000 Ethiopian birr, about $1,170, according to his lawyer.

From Seattle Times

"Last year, for $1 you would get 35 birr, now you get 45."

From BBC

Related Words

• ability
• agility
• alertness
• capability
• dynamism
• endurance
• intensity
• potency
• quickness
• strength
• urgency
• vitality