hamburger

This term is used interchangeably to describe the entire sandwich, the cooked meat patty itself, and the raw ground beef used as an ingredient. While "burger" is a common shorthand in casual conversation, "hamburger" remains the standard full term in formal menus and culinary contexts.

When referring to the raw meat, the word functions as an uncountable mass noun, similar to "beef" or "pork." However, when referring to the individual sandwiches or patties, it is a standard countable noun.