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.
Idioms
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.
late 14c., budde, origin unknown, perhaps from Old French boter "push forward, thrust," itself a Germanic word (cf. Dutch bot "bud," Old Saxon budil "bag, purse," German Beutel), or perhaps from Old English budd "beetle."
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.
Halt something at an early stage, or thoroughly check something. For example, By arresting all the leaders, they nipped the rebellion in the bud. This metaphoric expression, alluding to a spring frost that kills flower buds, was first recorded in a Beaumont and Fletcher play of 1606–1607.
