bud Hear it!

bud1 definition

bud (bud)

noun

    1. a small swelling or projection on a plant, from which a shoot, cluster of leaves, or flower develops
    2. a partly opened flower
  1. any undeveloped or immature person or thing
  2. an asexually produced swelling or growth on the body of a sponge, fungus, etc. that develops into a new individual

Etymology: ME budde, bud, seedpod < IE base *bheu-: see big

intransitive verb budded bud′·ded, budding bud′·ding

  1. to put forth buds
  2. to begin to develop
  3. to be young, promising, etc.

Etymology: < budthe

transitive verb

  1. to put forth as a bud or buds
  2. to cause to bud
  3. to insert (a bud of a plant) into the bark of another plant

Related Forms:

bud Idioms

in (the) bud

  1. in the time of budding
  2. in a budding condition

nip in the bud

to put an end to at the earliest stage
bud2 definition

bud (bud)

noun

Slang buddy (): used in addressing a man or boy

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.