Bury
/ˈbɛri/
verbA2
Definition
Bury means to place something deep in the earth or soil, covering it completely with dirt. People often bury things like seeds to grow plants, or sometimes objects or even animals to hide or protect them. It can also mean to put away ideas or feelings so they are not seen or noticed.
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⚡ See It in Action
To put something under the ground by covering it with soil
- •They buried the time capsule in the schoolyard.
- •The dog buried its bone in the backyard.
- •Farmers bury seeds in the soil to help them grow.
To hide or keep something secret, often feelings or information
- •She tried to bury her sadness after the bad news.
- •He buried the truth to avoid trouble.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "bury" like "put" (A1 word), but specifically putting something under the ground
- ✓Picture digging a hole in the garden and covering a small box with soil until you cannot see it
- ✓It's the feeling when you hide a treasure or plant a seed and cover it with earth
- ✓Sounds like "berry" → imagine a small berry hidden under leaves in the soil, safe and hidden
- ✓Remember stories where pirates bury treasure chests underground to keep them safe
- ✓NOT like "hide" (which can be anywhere), "bury" means hiding something specifically under the ground
- ✓NOT like "throw away" (getting rid of something), "bury" means placing it carefully and covering it
- ✓NOT like "drop" (just letting something fall), "bury" involves covering and hiding deeply
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Inter: to place a dead body in a grave (Use in formal or funeral contexts)
- •Cover: to put something over or on top of another thing (Use when focus is on the action of placing something on top, not specifically underground)
- •Hide: to keep something from being seen (Use when the place is not specifically underground)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: No prefix or suffix; root word "bury"
- •Etymology: From Old English "byrgan," meaning to hide or put underground
- •Historical development: Used for centuries to describe placing objects or bodies under earth
- •Modern usage: Commonly used for putting objects, seeds, or bodies underground; also used metaphorically for hiding feelings or information
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Why do you think people bury things instead of just hiding them somewhere else?
•Can you think of situations where "burying" feelings might be helpful or harmful?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.People bury seeds in the soil so the plants can ___ and grow.
2.When someone dies, families often bury the body in a ___.
3.She tried to bury her feelings of sadness, but they still showed on her face.
4.The dog buried its bone ___ the ground to keep it safe.
5.Unlike simply hiding, to bury something means to cover it completely with ___.
6.Pirates are famous for burying treasure chests ___ the earth.
7.When you bury a problem or secret, you try to keep it ___ from others.