burrow1 verbburrow2 noun
burrowbur‧row1 /ˈbʌrəʊ $ ˈbɜːroʊ/ verb 
Verb TableVERB TABLE
burrow
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | burrow |
| he, she, it | burrows | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | burrowed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have burrowed |
| he, she, it | has burrowed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had burrowed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will burrow |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have burrowed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am burrowing |
| he, she, it | is burrowing | |
| you, we, they | are burrowing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was burrowing |
| you, we, they | were burrowing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been burrowing |
| he, she, it | has been burrowing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been burrowing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be burrowing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been burrowing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- The gophers were busy burrowing holes.
- The rabbits had burrowed a hole under the fence.
- Toads burrow into the earth to hide from their enemies.
- But still they tell them, suggesting how deeply the stories have burrowed into their psyches.
- He threw everything out, clothes, shoes, old wellingtons, burrowing underneath all the mess like an overgrown mole.
- Hundreds of parishioners were working with bare hands, shovels and harrows, extending the church by burrowing out a crypt.
- It lays its eggs in your clothes while they are drying on the line and then they burrow into the skin.
- One group have lost their legs altogether and taken to burrowing underground.
- Orange flames burrowed through the grass.
- The footing corals start to anchor down on the loose rocks, and the subterranean sponges burrow underneath.
- The small mammals alive at this time did not hibernate, but had insulating fur and could burrow underground.
THESAURUS► dig
Collocations to make a hole in the ground using your hands, a tool, or a machine: · Some workmen were digging a trench at the side of the road.· In Africa, the people know where to dig for water.
► make a hole to dig a hole in the ground, using your hands or a tool: · Make a hole just big enough for the plant’s roots.
► burrow if an animal burrows, it makes a hole or a passage in the ground by digging the earth with its feet, nose etc: · The rabbits had burrowed a hole under the fence.
► plough British English, plow American English to turn over the soil using a machine or a tool pulled by animals, to prepare the soil for planting seeds: · The farmers here still plough their fields using buffaloes.
► excavate formal to dig a large hole in the ground, especially as a preparation for building something: · The men began excavating the hole for the pool.
► bore to make a deep round hole in the ground using a special machine, especially in order to look for oil or water: · Companies need a special licence to bore for oil.
Longman Language Activatorto dig earth out of the ground► dig to make a hole in the ground, using your hands, a tool, or a machine: · I found two dogs digging in the garden, looking for bones.· He was paid twelve dollars an hour to dig ditches and mix cement.dig for something (=in order to find something): · There were two fishermen on the beach digging for worms.dig a hole/ditch/grave etc: · The workmen began digging a hole in the middle of the road.· Some of the prisoners escaped through a tunnel they had dug under the wall.
► excavate formal: excavate a hole/chamber/trench etc to dig a deep or large hole, especially as a preparation for building something: · The turtle excavates a hole in the sand and then lays its eggs in it.· Workers had already begun excavating the foundations for the house.
► tunnel to dig a long passage under the ground, especially one that people or vehicles can go through: tunnel under/beneath/through etc: · Special drilling equipment is being used to tunnel beneath the sea bed.· worms tunnelling through the mudtunnel your way out/through/under etc: · After days of digging, the prisoners finally tunnelled their way out of the camp and escaped.
► burrow if an animal burrows , it makes a passage under the ground by digging through the earth as it moves forward: burrow into/under/through: · Toads burrow into the earth to hide from their enemies.burrow a hole: · The rabbits had burrowed a hole under the fence.
► plough British /plow American to turn over the earth in a field using a special tool or machine in order to prepare it for growing crops: · The fields are ploughed as soon as the winter crop is removed.· Farmers were plowing their land and planting cotton seeds.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► down
1[intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] to make a hole or passage in the ground SYN dig downburrow into/under/through etc· In burrowing down, the fish made a tube through the mud an inch or so across.· She had flattened the grass, burrowed down and made a cosy little nest for herself.· With that thought, once Peter had left she switched out the bedside lamp and burrowed down.· He burrowed down in his seat again, wishing he had a black moustache and a false nose.
Mother turtles burrow into the sand to lay their eggs.► see thesaurus at dig2[intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to press your body close to someone or under something because you want to get warm or feel safe SYN nestleburrow into/under/down etc The child stirred and burrowed deeper into the bed.burrow something into/against etc something She burrowed her head into his shoulder.3[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to search for something that is hidden in a container or under other things SYN rummageburrow in/into/through etc Helen burrowed in her bag for a handkerchief.burrow1 verbburrow2 noun
burrowburrow2 noun [countable] Word OriginWORD ORIGINburrow2
ExamplesOrigin:
1200-1300 boroughEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
word sets- During the day they retreat into shallow burrows a few centimetres below the ground.
- From the parental burrow Leadville was so far away it was only half real.
- In 1951, some nesting burrows, occupied, were found on islets near Castle Roads.
- The swallows dig their burrows here in the sand every year.
- Then it stays in the burrow alone, visited only at feeding times, for nearly two months.
- They are largely nocturnal, spending their days either down the burrows or out at sea gliding on stiff wings.
- Underfoot, a soggy tiger-trap of a burrow roof gives in like brown sugar.
- You think it's bad here in the burrow?
WORD SETS► Animals
Collocationsaardvark, nounadder, nounAfghan, nounalley cat, nounalligator, nounalpaca, nounAlsatian, nounamphibian, nounamphibious, adjectiveangora, nounanimal, nounanteater, nounantelope, nounanthropoid, adjectiveantler, nounape, nounappaloosa, nounarachnid, nounarmadillo, nounasp, nounass, nounbaa, verbbaboon, nounbaby, nounbadger, nounbantam, nounbark, verbbark, nounbarnacle, nounbasset, nounbat, nounbay, nounbay, verbbay, adjectivebeagle, nounbear, nounbeast, nounbeast of burden, nounbeaver, nounbellow, verbbellow, nounbelly, nounbig cat, nounbig game, nounbighorn sheep, nounbilly goat, nounbiped, nounbison, nounbitch, nounbivalve, nounbleat, verbbloodhound, nounbloodstream, nounblow-hole, nounboa, nounboar, nounbobcat, nounbovine, adjectivebow-wow, nounboxer, nounbrainwave, nounbrindled, adjectivebristle, verbbronc, nounbronco, nounbrontosaurus, nounbrush, nounbuck, nounbuffalo, nounbull, nounbulldog, nounbullfrog, nounbullock, nounbull terrier, nounburro, nounburrow, nouncalf, nouncall, nouncalve, verbcamel, nouncanine, adjectivecanine, nouncarapace, nouncarcass, nouncaribou, nouncarnivore, nouncarthorse, nouncat, nouncattle, nouncaudal, adjectivecayman, nouncetacean, nounchameleon, nounchamois, nouncheetah, nounchestnut, nounchickadee, nounchicken, nounchihuahua, nounchimpanzee, nounchinchilla, nounchipmunk, nounchow, nounclaw, nouncloven hoof, nouncoat, nouncob, nouncobra, nouncocker spaniel, nouncold-blooded, adjectivecollie, nouncolouring, nouncolt, nouncomb, nounconnective tissue, nouncony, nouncoon, nouncopperhead, nouncorgi, nouncougar, nouncourtship, nouncow, nouncoyote, nouncoypu, nouncrest, nouncrocodile, nouncrop, verbcrustacean, nouncry, nouncub, nouncur, noundachshund, nounDalmatian, noundeer, nounden, noundentine, noundingo, noundinosaur, noundoe, noundog, noundolphin, noundomesticate, verbdonkey, noundormouse, noundorsal, adjectivedromedary, nounduckbilled platypus, nounearthworm, nounelephant, nounelk, nounentrails, nounermine, nounewe, nounexcreta, nounexcretion, nounfallopian tube, nounfallow deer, nounfang, nounfauna, nounfawn, nounfeed, nounfeeler, nounfeline, adjectivefeline, nounfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferal, adjectiveferret, nounfetlock, nounfieldmouse, nounfilly, nounfin, nounfleece, nounflipper, nounflying fox, nounfoal, nounfoal, verbfoetus, nounforefoot, nounforeleg, nounfox, nounfoxhound, nounfox terrier, nounFriesian, nounfrog, nounfrogspawn, nounfruit bat, nounfur, nounfurry, adjectivegarter snake, noungazelle, noungecko, noungeese, gelding, noungerbil, nounGerman shepherd, noungestation, noungiant panda, noungibbon, noungiraffe, noungnu, noungoat, noungolden retriever, noungopher, noungorilla, noungregarious, adjectivegreyhound, noungroundhog, nounground squirrel, noungrunt, verbguinea pig, nounhack, nounhackles, nounhairless, adjectivehamster, nounhare, nounhart, nounhaunch, nounhedgehog, nounheifer, nounhen, nounherbivore, nounherd, nounhermit crab, nounhibernate, verbhind, adjectivehind, nounhindquarters, nounhippo, nounhippopotamus, nounhock, nounhog, nounhoof, nounhorned, adjectivehorse, nounhound, nounhowl, verbhump, nounhusky, nounhyaena, nounhybrid, nounhyena, nounibex, nouniguana, nounimpala, nouninbred, adjectiveinbreeding, nouninsectivore, nouninterbreed, verbinvertebrate, nounjackal, nounjackrabbit, nounjaguar, nounjellyfish, nounJersey, nounkangaroo, nounkid, nounkoala, nounkookaburra, nounLabrador, nounlair, nounlamb, nounlemming, nounleopard, nounlion, nounlioness, nounlitter, nounlitter, verblizard, nounllama, nounlonghorn, nounlugworm, nounlynx, nounmale, nounmamba, nounmammal, nounmammary, adjectivemammoth, nounmandible, nounmandrill, nounmane, nounman-eater, nounmare, nounmarmoset, nounmarsupial, nounmarten, nounmastitis, nounmate, nounmate, verbmating, nounmaw, nounmenagerie, nounmew, verbmiaow, verbmice, nounmigrant, nounmilk, verbmimic, verbmimic, nounmink, nounmole, nounmollusc, nounmongoose, nounmongrel, nounmonkey, nounmoo, verbmoose, nounmoult, verbmountain goat, nounmountain lion, nounmouse, nounmule, nounmuskrat, nounmussel, nounmustang, nounmutt, nounmuzzle, nounnag, nounnanny goat, nounnative, adjectivenative, nounnest, nounnewt, nounnocturnal, adjectiveocelot, nounoctopus, nounoffspring, nounoink, interjectionokapi, nounOld English sheepdog, nounomnivore, nounomnivorous, adjectiveopossum, nounorangutang, nounotter, nounox, nounpachyderm, nounpack, nounpad, nounpair, nounpanda, nounpanther, nounparasite, nounparasitic, adjectivepaw, nounpaw, verbpeccary, nounpedigree, adjectivepeke, nounPekinese, nounpelt, nounPersian cat, nounpest, nounpheasant, nounpiebald, adjectivepied, adjectivepig, nounpiggy, nounpiglet, nounpincer, nounpine marten, nounpinto, nounpit bull terrier, nounpit pony, nounplankton, nounplate, nounplatypus, nounpointer, nounpolar bear, nounpolecat, nounpolyp, nounpony, nounpooch, nounpoodle, nounporcupine, nounporker, nounporpoise, nounPortuguese man-of-war, nounpossum, nounpouch, nounprairie dog, nounprance, verbpredation, nounpredator, nounpredatory, adjectiveprehensile, adjectiveprey, nounprickle, nounpride, nounprimate, nounproboscis, nounprocreate, verbprowl, verbpterodactyl, nounpuffin, nounpug, nounpullet, nounpuma, nounpup, nounpurebred, adjectivepurr, verbpussy, nounpython, nounquack, verbquadruped, nounquill, nounrabbit, nounrabbit warren, nounrabid, adjectiveraccoon, nounracoon, nounram, nounrat, nounrattler, nounrattlesnake, nounravening, adjectivereindeer, nounreptile, nounretract, verbretriever, nounrhesus monkey, nounrhino, nounrhinoceros, nounroan, nounrodent, nounroe deer, nounrottweiler, nounruminant, nounruminate, verbrump, nounrunt, nounrut, nounsable, nounsac, nounsalamander, nounsausage dog, nounscavenge, verbschool, nounscorpion, nounseal, nounsea lion, nounseashell, nounsea urchin, nounsemen, nounserpent, nounsetter, nounsex, verbshed, verbsheep, nounsheepdog, nounShetland pony, nounshire horse, nounshrew, nounshrimp, nounSiamese cat, nounsilkworm, nounsimian, adjectivesire, nounskin, nounskunk, nounsloth, nounslug, nounsnail, nounsnake, nounsnakebite, nounsnarl, verbsniffer dog, nounsnout, nounsocial, adjectivesow, nounspaniel, nounspawn, verbspawn, nounsperm whale, nounsponge, nounspoor, nounspore, nounspringbok, nounsquid, nounsquirrel, nounstag, nounstallion, nounstarfish, nounSt Bernard, nounsteed, nounsteer, nounsting, nounstinger, nounstoat, nounstomach, nounstray, adjectivestray, nounstud, nounsucker, nounsuckle, verbsuckling, nounswine, nountadpole, nountail, nountame, adjectivetame, verbtapeworm, nountapir, nounteat, nountentacle, nounterrapin, nounterrier, nounterritorial, adjectiveterritory, nountiger, nountigress, nountoad, nountom, nountomcat, nountooth, nountortoise, nountortoiseshell, nountrumpet, verbtrunk, nountufted, adjectiveturtle, nountusk, nountyrannosaurus, nounudder, nounuterus, nounvampire bat, nounvent, nounvermin, nounvertebrate, nounvicuña, nounviper, nounvivarium, nounvixen, nounvole, nounwag, verbwallaby, nounwallow, verbwalrus, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewarren, nounwarthog, nounwater buffalo, nounwater rat, nounwater vole, nounweasel, nounweevil, nounwhale, nounwhelk, nounwhelp, nounwhelp, verbwhinny, verbwhippet, nounwhisker, nounwild boar, nounwildcat, nounwildebeest, nounwildfowl, nounwinkle, nounwithers, nounwolf, nounwolfhound, nounwombat, nounwool, nounyak, nounyap, verbyap, nounyearling, nounyelp, nounYorkshire terrier, nounyoung, nounzebra, nounzoologist, nounzoology, nounzygote, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► system
a passage in the ground made by an animal such as a rabbit or fox as a place to live· Some hedgerow stops are often the beginnings of a new burrow system once the doe and her young move out.· All my young ferrets get a similar introduction to give them the necessary experience for bigger operations within major burrow systems.· She may have emerged from the burrow system unnoticed and either slipped away under cover or escaped into an adjoining burrow system.· So loose ferrets are released into the burrow system, one being introduced, if numbers permit, into each major entrance.· She may have emerged from the burrow system unnoticed and either slipped away under cover or escaped into an adjoining burrow system.· Just as some burrow systems are easier to work than others, some contain more rabbits than others.· Your main safeguard is to ensure that the remaining rabbits can not escape back into the burrow system.· They are not underground for any of a number of reasons - or they may be underground in another burrow system altogether.