sandbur

or sand·burr

[ sand-bur ]

/ ˈsændˌbɜr /

noun

any of various grasses of the genus Cenchrus, having spikelets enclosed in prickly burs.

any of several bur-bearing weeds growing in sandy places, as Franseria acanthicarpa or Solanum rostratum, of the western U.S.

Nearby words

sandblast, sandbox, sandbox tree, sandboy, sandbug, sandbur, sandburg, sandburg, carl, sandcastle, sandculture, sande

Origin of sandbur

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; sand + bur¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019