burrow

plural burrows

1. A tunnel or hole, or a system of tunnels, often as dug by a small creature for use as a home.

   But very soon he grew to like it, for the Boy used to talk to him, and made nice tunnels for him under the bedclothes that he said were like the burrows the real rabbits lived in.

   1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC

   Synonyms: earth, warren

2. obsoleteObsolete form of barrow (“a mound”).

   Such another chapel as this, though not built upon a burrow of stones, is to be seen on Montague Hill, in Somersetshire, and dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel […]

   1868, Joseph Polsue, A Complete Parochial History of the County of Cornwall, page 286

3. obsoleteObsolete form of borough (“an incorporated town”).

present singular third person burrows · participle present burrowing · participle past burrowed · past burrowed

1. intransitiveTo dig a tunnel or hole.
2. intransitiveTo move underneath or press up against in search of safety or comfort.

   The young girl burrowed into the bed.

3. intransitiveTo investigate thoroughly.

   The journalist burrowed into the origins of the mayor's corruption.

plural Burrows

1. countableuncountableA surname.
2. A place in England:
   1. countableuncountableA hamlet in Broadclyst parish, East Devon district, Devon (OS grid ref SX9997).
   2. countableuncountableA settlement in Newton Poppleford and Harpford parish, East Devon district, Devon (OS grid ref SY0789).
   3. countableuncountableA settlement in Kingsbury Episcopi parish, Somerset, which includes Higher Burrow and Lower Burrow (OS grid ref ST4120).
   4. countableuncountableA hamlet in Wootton Courtenay parish and Timberscombe parish, Somerset (OS grid ref SS9342).