English Reference
noun

burner

n.
US /ˈbɝnɝ/ UK /bˈɜːnɐ/ burn·er UK spelling burners

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Cooking

    the part of a stove or cooker that produces a flame or heat to cook food.

    the part of a cooking stove or furnace that produces heat, typically through a gas flame or an electric heating element.

    Simple

    She turned on the front burner to boil a pot of water for the pasta.

    In context

    The chef adjusted the gas burner to a low simmer, ensuring the delicate sauce would not break during the final reduction.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate InformalSlang

    a cheap mobile phone that you use for a short time and then throw away to stay private.

    a prepaid mobile phone intended for temporary use and disposal to maintain the user's anonymity.

    Simple

    He bought a burner at the convenience store so he wouldn't have to use his real number.

    In context

    The investigative journalist used a burner to communicate with the whistleblower, fearing that their primary devices might be compromised by surveillance.

    disposable phone
  3. 03 C1 Advanced InformalSlang Internet

    a fake social media account used to post things without people knowing who you really are.

    an anonymous social media profile or email account created for a specific, often temporary, purpose to hide one's true identity.

    Simple

    The athlete was caught using a burner account to argue with fans on Twitter.

    In context

    Corporate whistleblowers often operate through burner accounts to leak internal documents without risking immediate professional retaliation.

    sockpuppetalt account
  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

    a small piece of equipment in a science lab that produces a single flame.

    a laboratory apparatus, such as a Bunsen burner, designed to produce a single open gas flame for heating or sterilization.

    Simple

    The students learned how to safely light the burner during their first chemistry lesson.

    In context

    The technician placed the crucible over the burner, carefully monitoring the temperature to prevent the sample from oxidizing too rapidly.

    bunsen burner
  5. 05 B2 Upper Intermediate Computing

    a device used to copy music or data onto a CD or DVD.

    a hardware device capable of writing data to optical discs, such as CD-Rs or DVDs.

    Simple

    I used the DVD burner to make a backup of all my old wedding photos.

    In context

    Before the advent of high-capacity cloud storage, an external disc burner was an essential peripheral for archiving large media projects.

  6. 06 C2 Proficiency Slang

    a very large, colorful, and complicated piece of graffiti art.

    an elaborate, technically proficient, and usually large-scale piece of graffiti art.

    Simple

    The wall under the bridge was covered in impressive burners from the local crew.

    In context

    The abandoned warehouse became a gallery for local writers, featuring several burners that showcased intricate lettering and vibrant color gradients.

  7. 07 C1 Advanced Informal

    a person who attends the Burning Man festival in the desert.

    a participant in the annual Burning Man event, typically adhering to the culture of radical self-expression and communal effort.

    Simple

    Every August, thousands of burners head to the Nevada desert for the event.

    In context

    The local economy sees a significant spike in revenue as burners pass through the small town to stock up on supplies for the week-long festival.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated