bun
noun
any of a wide variety of variously shaped bread rolls, usually leavened and slightly sweetened or plain, sometimes containing spices, dried currants, etc.
bun
1 American
[buhn]
/ bʌn /
noun
-
buns
plural
-
any of a wide variety of variously shaped bread rolls, usually leavened and slightly sweetened or plain, sometimes containing spices, dried currants, etc.
-
hair gathered into a round coil or knot at the nape of the neck or on top of the head in certain coiffures.
-
Slang. buns, the buttocks.
bun
2
American
[buhn]
/ bʌn /
idioms
BUN
3
American
abbreviation
bun
British
/ bʌn /
noun
-
a small roll, similar to bread but usually containing sweetening, currants, spices, etc
-
any of various types of small round sweet cakes
-
a hairstyle in which long hair is gathered into a bun shape at the back of the head
-
slang to be pregnant
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bun1
1325–75; Middle English bunne, possibly of Romance origin; see also buñuelo ( def. )
Origin of bun2
First recorded in 1900–05; of uncertain origin
Origin of BUN3
First recorded in 1915–20
Explanation
A bun is a small roll, usually made of wheat flour and baked in an oven. You might bake a batch of buns for a breakfast treat on Sunday mornings. Some people celebrate spring or the Easter holidays by making hot cross buns, sweet rolls with currants or raisins and light frosting. Because buns are commonly small and round, the hairstyle that involves a tight coil of hair on the top or back of the head is also called a bun. The origin is probably the French buignete, "a fritter," which had the unpleasant original meaning of "a boil" or "a skin swelling."
Vocabulary lists containing bun
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.
See Examples For:
The man bun was safe from Alf-Inge’s disapproval—and from any scissors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Grab a pineapple bun stuffed with ham and butter, a corned beef egg tart, a sourdough one, even pistachio.
From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026
Burger King, owned by Restaurant Brands International, earlier this year improved the bun, box, mayo and other elements of its Whopper.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
I had never before described a man bun as severe, but no other word will do.
From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026
A neat French braid begins at Zeta-4’s left ear and curves around the back, to where it twists into a pretzel bun on the opposite side, a lot like the Chancellor’s.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
Urea concentration in the blood, called blood urea nitrogen or BUN, is used as an indicator of kidney function.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022
BUN, a small cake, usually sweet and round.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4 "Bulgaria" to "Calgary" by Various
BUN, BUNN, s. a cake commonly used at New-Year time, composed of flour, dried fruits, and spices.
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume XXIV. by Alexander Leighton
This proved true, for the most part: Many visitors clearly knew and loved “Star Wars,” and Princess Leia buns and Yoda ears abounded.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
The smell hits first, garlic and char on skewered meat, chiles brushed over buns, oyster sauce mingling with the syrupy edge of black vinegar on sizzling noodles.
From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026
“It’s common for the pork to be at least two times the size of the bun,” she said, adding that the Filling Station’s version “could easily fill two buns, with pork hanging over.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Inflation has been creeping up since February, but your wallet will feel a lot lighter after you scan the hamburger, hot dogs, buns, and even the barbecue sauce for your America’s 250th birthday party.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
“I’m putting a package of buns in here. Got that?”
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
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