Burly describes someone who is big, strong, and heavily built. A burly person has a solid, muscular frame that suggests physical power. Think of a lumberjack splitting logs with an axe, or a football lineman holding his ground against opponents trying to push past him.

The word carries a sense of both size and strength together. You wouldn't call a tall, thin basketball player burly, even though he might be strong. And you wouldn't use it for someone who's simply overweight. Burly suggests someone broad-shouldered and thick with muscle, the kind of person who looks like they could lift heavy furniture without breaking a sweat.

The word is often used to describe men or male animals, like a burly grizzly bear or a burly blacksmith. It's often used with a touch of admiration: when you call someone burly, you're noting their impressive physical presence. A burly bodyguard, a burly construction worker, or a burly sailor all share that same quality of looking tough and capable.