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

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

She said she was not told why she was detained, paid 3,000 birr to a policeman and was released five days later.

From Reuters

Related Words

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