Akademik

n.

The rate at which a newly-formed company spends cash on startup costs, research and development, and other expenses.

"The company has about $ 500,000 in the bank, and Gardner has agreed to work for $ 50,000, half his normal salary, to minimize the company's burn rate, now about $ 50,000 a month."

— Bloomberg News, "Shares shoot up for maker of gun locks"