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bud

[ buhd ]

/ bʌd /

noun

Botany.

a small axillary or terminal protuberance on a plant, containing rudimentary foliage (leaf bud ), the rudimentary inflorescence (flower bud ), or both (mixed bud ).
an undeveloped or rudimentary stem or branch of a plant.

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; gemma.

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 yeast and a few other fungi.

Anatomy. any small rounded part.

an immature or undeveloped person or thing.

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

verb (used without object), bud·ded, bud·ding.

to put forth or produce buds.

to begin to develop.

to be in an early stage of development.

verb (used with object), bud·ded, bud·ding.

to cause to bud.

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

QUIZZES

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Question 1 of 7

What does “blatherskite” mean?

a person given to voluble, empty talk.

an ancient Greek or Roman farce that depended for effect largely upon ludicrous actions and gestures.

a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.

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Idioms for bud

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

nip in the bud, to stop (something) in the beginning of its development: The rebellion was nipped in the bud.

Origin of bud

1350–1400; Middle English budde bud, spray, pod; akin to German Hagebutte hip, Old Norse budda purse, dialectal Swedish bodd head, Dutch buidel bag, purse, Middle Low German buddich swollen

OTHER WORDS FROM bud

budder, nounbudless, adjectivebudlike, adjectivenon·bud·ding, adjective, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bud

budder , butter

Words nearby bud

Bucolics, Bucovina, bucranium, Bucureşti, Bucyrus, bud, Buda, Budapest, Budd-Chiari syndrome, Buddha, Buddhahood

Definition for bud (2 of 3)

bud²

[ buhd ]

/ bʌd /

noun

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).

Origin of bud

1850–55, Americanism; back formation from buddy

Definition for bud (3 of 3)

Bud

or Budd

[ buhd ]

/ bʌd /

noun

a male given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for bud

Can you imagine Bud Powell or Charlie Parker writing a jingle?
Herbie Hancock Holds Forth|David Yaffe|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He owns a smallish vaporizer that still looks like it came from the future, and buys wax instead of bud.
This Is Your E-Cigarette on Drugs|Daniel Genis|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yeah,” he says finally, squelching his giggles by downing half a bottle of Bud, “that sounds like Ray.
The Stacks: The Judas Priest Teen Suicide Trial|Ivan Solotaroff|June 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is your best shot at nipping any future wedding invites (and accompanying airfare to Missouri) in the bud.
The First-World Anarchist’s Guide to Weddings|Kelly Williams Brown|May 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

For smokers to feel good safely, sellers have to become Al Bundys of Bud, salesmen of the saddest sort.
Weed Gave My Family Everything—Then Took It Away|Abby Haglage|April 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thure and Bud were too familiar with this type of wilderness manhood to be worried in the least over their rough looks and dress.
The Cave of Gold|Everett McNeil
Bud Hyslop and a stranger were talking together a little apart from Dan.
Gypsies of the Air|Bess Moyer
"It would help her a lot if she knew we were so close to her," said Bud.
Ted Strong's Motor Car|Edward C. Taylor
Mike stared at Bud like a fascinated rabbit, making no move to protect himself.
King Coal|Upton Sinclair
Bud would never leave the old horse to that amateur's tender mercies, but he didn't intend to make it easy for the amateur.
A Voice in the Wilderness|Grace Livingston Hill

British Dictionary definitions for bud (1 of 2)

bud¹

/ (bʌd) /

noun

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

a partially opened flower
(in combination)rosebud

any small budlike outgrowthtaste buds

something small or immature

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

a slang word for marijuana

in bud at the stage of producing buds

nip in the bud to put an end to (an idea, movement, etc) in its initial stages

verb buds, budding or budded

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

(intr) to begin to develop or grow

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

Word Origin for bud

C14 budde, of Germanic origin; compare Icelandic budda purse, Dutch buidel

British Dictionary definitions for bud (2 of 2)

bud²

/ (bʌd) /

noun

informal, mainly US 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

Medical definitions for bud

bud

[ bŭd ]

n.

A small, rounded anatomical structure or organic part, such as a taste bud.

An asexual reproductive structure, as in yeast or a hydra, that consists of an outgrowth capable of developing into a new individual.

v.

To put forth or cause to put forth buds.

To reproduce asexually by forming a bud.

Scientific definitions for bud

bud

[ bŭd ]

Noun

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.♦ Terminal buds occur at the end of a stem, twig, or branch.♦ 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).♦ 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.

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

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

Verb

To form or produce a bud or buds.

Idioms and Phrases with bud

bud

see nip in the bud.

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WORD OF THE DAY

bud

noun

verb (used without object), bud·ded, bud·ding.

verb (used with object), bud·ded, bud·ding.