bun

¹ American  

[buhn] / bʌn /

idioms

1. have a bun on, to be intoxicated.

   Everyone at the party seemed to have a bun on.

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BUN ² American  

abbreviation

1. blood urea nitrogen: the concentration of nitrogen in the blood in the form of urea, indicating kidney function.

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bun ³ American  

[buhn] / bʌn /

noun

1. any of a wide variety of variously shaped bread rolls, usually leavened and slightly sweetened or plain, sometimes containing spices, dried currants, etc.

2. hair gathered into a round coil or knot at the nape of the neck or on top of the head in certain coiffures.

3. Slang. buns, the buttocks.

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bun British  

/ bʌn /

noun

1. a small roll, similar to bread but usually containing sweetening, currants, spices, etc

2. any of various types of small round sweet cakes

3. a hairstyle in which long hair is gathered into a bun shape at the back of the head

4. slang to be pregnant

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Etymology

Origin of bun¹

First recorded in 1900–05; of uncertain origin

Origin of BUN¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Origin of bun¹

1325–75; Middle English bunne, possibly of Romance origin; buñuelo ( def. )

Example Sentences

A woman with her hair slicked back into a tight bun calls out, “Next!”

From Literature

I quickly put on my best dress and comb my hair into a bun.

From Literature

She smoothed an unruly curl that had sprung from her bun back away from her eyes.

From Literature

She tried desperately to pull her hair back into a bun and was sure she’d just made it worse.

From Literature

Her hair, which she usually wore twisted into a neat bun, was hanging in heavy masses to her waist.

From Literature

Related Words

• bread
• doughnut
• muffin
• pastry
• scone