Burger
A burger is a type of sandwich or patty-based dish, usually served in a split bun or bread roll.
A burger is a sandwich with a cooked patty served in a bun. The term is most often short for hamburger.
What it is
In common English usage, a burger is a hamburger or similar sandwich served in a bun. The word is a shortened form of hamburger. In North American English, it specifically refers to a sandwich with a patty in a bun, though other English varieties may use it more broadly.
Key details
The classic burger is made with a ground-meat patty, often beef. Common variations include cheeseburgers, turkey burgers, and plant-based patties like tofu. The term can also extend to non-beef patties. Usage differs by region; in some English varieties, burger can refer to a broader range of bun sandwiches.
Why it matters
Burgers are strongly associated with fast food, especially in the United States, where the hamburger became an emblematic food. However, they are also widely available in diners, casual restaurants, and upscale settings. In Canada, burgers are a common part of fast food and casual dining.
In short
- A burger is usually a hamburger or similar sandwich in a bun.
- The term can also apply to patties made from non-beef ingredients.
- Burgers are associated with fast food but also served in other settings.
- The word is a shortened form of hamburger.
Burgers are a common part of Canadian fast food and casual dining, and the term is widely understood in Canadian English in the same general sense as North American English.
Quick questions
What is a burger?
Is a burger always made with beef?
Is burger the same as hamburger?
Sources
- Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burgerSupports: Defines burger as hamburger and a sandwich similar to a hamburger.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/hamburgerSupports: Describes hamburger as ground beef or a sandwich with a beef patty in a bun; notes fast-food and cultural significance.
- Cambridge Dictionary — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/burgerSupports: Defines burger as meat or other food made into a round flat shape, fried and usually eaten in a bread roll; notes short form of hamburger.
- Vocabulary.com — https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/burgerSupports: States burger is a casual shorthand for hamburger and can be made from other ingredients.
- Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/HamburgerSupports: Summarizes burger/hamburger as a sandwich with a meat patty and notes global popularity.
- Wiktionary — https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/burgerSupports: Gives regional meanings and broader usage of burger as a similar sandwich or patty.
- Lieferando Foodwiki — https://www.lieferando.de/foodwiki/amerikanische-kueche/burger/Supports: Describes burger as a patty in bun with toppings and notes burger as an abbreviation of hamburger.