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burnup

burnup

9.9
A fast motorcycle race on public roads often done illegally
  • noun
  • /ˈbɜrnˌʌp/
  • NSFW
: carrera de motos
  • Police cracked down on the burnup that took place on Main Street last night.

Examples

  • Local residents have complained about noise from the illegal burnups in their neighborhood.

  • The annual burnup attracts many motorcycle enthusiasts.

  • A group of bikers organized a midnight burnup outside the city limits.

  • Did you see the burnup last weekend?

  • A group of bikers organized a midnight burnup along the coastal road, thrilling onlookers.

  • Local residents have complained about the noise and danger of the illegal burnups held downtown.

  • The police monitored the annual burnup, ensuring the event was safe for participants and spectators.

How Fast

dragster
2 5.2
burnup
  • NSFW
9.9
race
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

burnup singular
burnups plural

Morphology

burnup = burn + up (semi-transparent) = burn + up

Looks like 'burn' + 'up' and suggests intense speed or activity, but the sense 'motorcycle race' is slang/idiomatic and not a predictable literal meaning for learners.

Etymology

Burnup for a motorcycle race comes from the idea of burn and up and the phrase 'burn rubber', where tyres smoke as bikes speed away. A helpful way to remember it is to picture bikes 'burning' the road while racing, which is why illegal high-speed runs are called 'burnups'.