borer

American  

[bawr-er, bohr-] / ˈbɔr ər, ˈboʊr- /

noun

1. a person or thing that bores or pierces.

2. Machinery. a tool used for boring; auger.

3. Zoology.

   1. any of several insects that bore into trees, fruits, etc., especially a beetle that bores into the woody part of plants.

   2. any of various mollusks, worms, etc., that bore into wood, stone, coral, or shells.

4. a marsipobranch fish, as a hagfish, that bores into other fishes to feed on their flesh.

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borer British  

/ ˈbɔːrə /

noun

1. a machine or hand tool for boring holes

2. any of various insects, insect larvae, molluscs, or crustaceans that bore into rock or plant material, esp wood See also woodborer corn borer marine borer rock borer

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Etymology

Origin of borer

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; bore ², -er ¹

Example Sentences

The goldspotted oak borer is native to Arizona, where the ecosystem is adapted to it and it doesn’t kill many trees.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2026

Ideally, he'd plant a variety that could resist the coffee berry borer, a beetle that feasts on coffee cherries, and that would ripen with greater uniformity.

From Salon • Jul. 24, 2024

Lessons learned from the war on the oak borer could be applied to future invaders.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2024

Some of the earliest efforts to use urban wood systemically started in the Midwest in the early 2000s, as the invasive emerald ash borer killed millions of ash trees.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 3, 2022

Needless to say, the results of all this work are now jeopardized as the enemies of the corn borer are killed off by the sprays.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson