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bud

1 American  
[buhd] / bʌd /

noun

  1. Botany.

    1. a small axillary or terminal protuberance on a plant, containing rudimentary foliage leaf bud, the rudimentary inflorescence flower bud, or both mixed bud.

    2. an undeveloped or rudimentary stem or branch of a plant.

  2. Zoology. (in certain animals of low organization) a prominence that develops into a new individual, sometimes permanently attached to the parent and sometimes becoming detached; gemmule.

  3. Mycology. a small, rounded outgrowth produced from a fungus spore or cell by a process of asexual reproduction, eventually separating from the parent cell as a new individual: commonly produced by most yeast and a few other fungi.

  4. Anatomy. any small rounded part.

  5. an immature or undeveloped person or thing.

  6. Slang. marijuana, especially potent marijuana from the buds, or flowering tops, of the hemp plant.

verb (used without object)

budded, budding

  1. to put forth or produce buds.

  2. to begin to develop.

  3. to be in an early stage of development.

verb (used with object)

budded, budding

  1. to cause to bud.

  2. Horticulture. to graft by inserting a single bud into the stock.

idioms

  1. in the bud, in an immature or undeveloped state: Also in bud.

    a Shakespeare in the bud.

  2. nip in the bud, to stop (something) in the beginning of its development.

    The rebellion was nipped in the bud.
bud 2 American  
[buhd] / bʌd /

noun

  1. brother; buddy (used in informal address, as to one's brother or to a man or boy whose name is not known to the speaker).

Bud 3 American  
[buhd] / bʌd /
Or Budd

noun

  1. a male given name.

bud 1 British  
/ bʌd /

noun

  1. informal short for buddy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
bud 2 British  
/ bʌd /

noun

  1. a swelling on a plant stem consisting of overlapping immature leaves or petals

    1. a partially opened flower

    2. ( in combination )

      rosebud

  3. any small budlike outgrowth

    taste buds

  4. something small or immature

  5. an asexually produced outgrowth in simple organisms, such as yeasts, and the hydra that develops into a new individual

  6. a slang word for marijuana

  7. at the stage of producing buds

  8. to put an end to (an idea, movement, etc) in its initial stages

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) (of plants and some animals) to produce buds

  2. (intr) to begin to develop or grow

  3. (tr) horticulture to graft (a bud) from one plant onto another, usually by insertion under the bark

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
bud Scientific  
/ bŭd /

  1. A small swelling on a branch or stem, containing an undeveloped shoot, leaf, or flower. Some species have mixed buds containing two of these structures, or even all three.

  2. ◆ Terminal buds occur at the end of a stem, twig, or branch.

  3. ◆ Axillary buds, also known as lateral buds, occur in the axils of leaves (in the upper angle of where the leaf grows from the stem).

  4. ◆ Accessory buds often occur clustered around terminal buds or above and on either side of axillary buds. Accessory buds are usually smaller than terminal and axillary buds.

  5. A small rounded outgrowth on an asexually reproducing organism, such as a yeast or hydra, that is capable of developing into a new individual.

  6. See more at budding

  7. A tiny part or structure, such as a taste bud, that is shaped like a plant bud.

  1. To form or produce a bud or buds.

bud More Idioms  

  1. see nip in the bud.

Other Word Forms

  • budder noun
  • budless adjective
  • budlike adjective
  • nonbudding adjective

Etymology

Origin of bud1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English budde, bodde “bud, spray, pod”; further origin uncertain; perhaps from Middle Dutch botte “bud,” or Old French bout “tip, end”

Origin of bud2

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; back formation from buddy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It is suitable for young operaphiles-in-training and budding sopranos and directors alike.

From The Wall Street Journal

She knew he was keeping their budding romance a secret from his parents.

From Literature

It was early spring, so the plants were just starting to sprout and grow buds, but nothing was edible yet.

From Literature

David, the budding mogul, is not only backed by father Larry’s Oracle wealth.

From The Wall Street Journal

So the money bouquet culture is unlikely to be nipped in the bud any time soon.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.