burp
Americannoun
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
-
informal (intr) to belch
-
(tr) to cause (a baby) to burp to relieve flatulence after feeding
Usage
What does burp mean? A burp is the often noisy instance of stomach gas being released through the mouth. It often happens after you eat or especially after you drink a bubbly drink like soda.Burp can also be used as a verb meaning to release gas in such a way, as in I burped right in the middle of the meeting—it was so embarrassing. Burping is common and normal, but it’s often considered rude to burp in public, especially to do so loudly. It’s typically considered the polite thing to do to try to cover up a burp.A synonym for both the noun and verb sense of burp is belch, which is a bit more formal. The technical medical term for burping or a burp is eructation. The verb form of this is eruct.As a verb, burp can also mean to help a baby to burp, as in I always enjoyed burping my babies after they drank their bottle—it’s so satisfying to get a big burp out! Babies are burped to prevent the buildup of gas. Usually, burping is done by gently patting the baby’s back.Burp is also sometimes used in a figurative way in the context of a thing releasing gas or air or something else, especially in a messy way. A volcano can be said to burp out fumes. You can burp a food storage container—let the excess air out of it—by quickly opening and closing the lid.Example: My grandfather loved to conclude his dinner by unleashing a loud burp to signal his satisfaction.
Other Word Forms
- burpless adjective
Etymology
Origin of burp
An Americanism first recorded in 1930–35; imitative
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As she goes through the doorway, she lets out a fairly impressive burp.
From Literature
Frankly, there was something nerve-racking about not knowing how the burping, crying, diaper-wetting new arrival might change things at Ashton Place.
From Literature
Chief emission culprits are livestock farming, particularly cattle, which release planet-warming methane when they burp.
From Barron's
That weird Strawberry Shortcake doll that would burp its signature scent in your face when you squeezed its stomach.
From Salon
Cattle also burp planet-heating methane gas, plus they require water and land.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
