burrow

American  

[bur-oh, buhr-oh] / ˈbɜr oʊ, ˈbʌr oʊ /

noun

1. a hole or tunnel in the ground made by a rabbit, fox, or similar animal to live or hide in.

   Even in winter, chipmunks are active in their burrows and emerge on sunny days.

2. a place of retreat; shelter or refuge.

   His study is his burrow—we have to coax him out for every meal.

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verb (used without object)

1. to make a hole or passage in, into, or under something.

   This small bird can survive cold Arctic nights by burrowing into the snow.

2. to lodge in an underground hole or tunnel.

   Many rodents burrow over the winter.

3. to hide.

   My cat likes to burrow under the rug and surprise me by jumping out as I walk past.

   Fleeing fame, he burrowed in a small town to focus on his family for a decade or so.

4. to proceed by or as if by digging.

   Buried under sediment, the clams can burrow up to the surface from a depth of 16 inches.

   Stray dogs burrowed through the piles of trash looking for scraps.

5. to penetrate deeply into something so as to investigate, exploit, or influence it, etc..

   In her book on the brain, the writer burrows into the workings of an organ once deemed unknowable.

   These nasty computer viruses are adept at burrowing into your system.

verb (used with object)

1. to dig holes or passages into (a hill, mountainside, etc.).

   When earthworms burrow the soil, they aerate it and help plant roots to penetrate deeper.

2. to hide or shelter in a safe, snug space.

   The abandoned pup had burrowed itself in the straw of the barn out of pure fear.

   She burrowed the runt piglet in her coat till she had completed her chores in the barn.

3. to make by or as if by digging.

   We burrowed our way through the crowd.

verb phrase

1. burrow in

   1. to penetrate or dig into or under something.

      The beetle’s larvae burrow in and feed on the living tissues just beneath the tree’s bark.

      All my historical research was spurred by this confidence that I could burrow in and find answers.

   2. to enter and become lodged or settled in a place.

      The enemy had taken over the town and burrowed in.

      He was just going to crash at my place for “a few days,” but he’s burrowed in.

   3. (of a political appointee) to be hired as a permanent civil servant when the administration that made the appointment leaves power.

      He was the appointed director of the agency, and later burrowed in as a manager.

burrow British  

/ ˈbʌrəʊ /

noun

1. a hole or tunnel dug in the ground by a rabbit, fox, or other small animal, for habitation or shelter

2. a small snug place affording shelter or retreat

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verb

1. to dig (a burrow) in, through, or under (ground)

2. to move through by or as by digging

   to burrow through the forest

3. (intr) to hide or live in a burrow

4. (intr) to delve deeply

   he burrowed into his pockets

5. to hide (oneself)

Other Word Forms

• burrower
  noun
• unburrowed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of burrow

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English borow, earlier burh, of uncertain origin; perhaps from Old English gebeorg “refuge,” noun derivative of beorgan “to hide, protect, preserve” (compare late Middle English beri “burrow,” variant of earlier berg “refuge”); akin to Old English burgen “grave” (in the sense “place of protection for a body”); cf. bury

Explanation

Rabbits live in a burrow or a set of tunnels under the earth. They make these tunnels by burrowing, or digging holes with their bodies. Just one letter separates burrow from borrow. To remember the difference, think of the 'u' in burrow as the 'u' for under. Burrows are always underground, and when you burrow under something, you are always going beneath it. Worms can burrow into apples, and on a cold day, you might decide that you'd rather stay in and burrow underneath your blankets.

Example Sentences

Trite little verbal tidbits repeated by parents, grandparents, mentors and coaches burrow into your psyche and weave their way into an entire philosophy on how to live life.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

They can eat a quarter of their body weight in vegetation, burrow destructively and ravage waterways and ecosystems.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Rather than building large dams, they sometimes burrow into riverbanks, but often the evidence is more visible.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

Once the eggs hatch, the maggots burrow into flesh in a corkscrew motion, which is how the insect got its name.

From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025

It tried to burrow its face into his coat, into his neckline, next to his skin.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Related Words

• delve