bud

1 of 2

noun

ˈbəd 

1

: a small lateral or terminal protuberance on the stem of a plant that may develop into a flower, leaf, or shoot

2

: something not yet mature or at full development: such as

a

: an incompletely opened flower

b

: child, youth

c(1)

: an outgrowth of an organism that differentiates into a new individual : gemma

(2)

: an outgrowth having the potential to differentiate and grow into a definitive organ or part : primordium

an embryonic limb bud

3

: buddy

4

slang : marijuana

The dance floor is packed. Red and blue lights filter through cigarette and bud smoke.

—T-Love

bud

2 of 2

verb

budded; budding

intransitive verb

1

of a plant

a

: to set or put forth buds

b

: to commence growth from buds

2

: to grow or develop from or as if from a bud

3

: to reproduce asexually especially by the pinching off of a small part of the parent

transitive verb

1

: to produce or develop from buds

2

: to cause (a plant) to bud

3

: to insert a bud from a plant of one kind into an opening in the bark of (a plant of another kind) usually in order to propagate a desired variety

budder noun

Phrases

in the bud

: in an early stage of development

nipped the rebellion in the bud

Synonyms

Noun

• bairn [chiefly Scottish]
• bambino
• chap [Southern & Midland]
• chick
• child
• cub
• juvenile
• kid
• kiddie
• kiddy
• kiddo
• moppet
• sprat
• sprout
• squirt
• whelp
• youngling
• youngster
• youth

Examples of bud in a Sentence

Noun

The bush has plenty of buds but no flowers yet.

that sitcom star is still a bud, so all he needs right now are looks and personality

Verb

The trees budded early this spring.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Trump’s threatened unconstitutional actions must be nipped in the bud. —Pierce O'Donnell, The Mercury News, 12 Dec. 2024

The case holds just one additional charge of 11 hours, making for a total of 22 hours between the buds and the case. —PCMAG, 11 Dec. 2024

Verb

The most notable example is the budding debate around defense money, an early focus of Trump and progressives alike, where high spending from the Pentagon has been criticized by some prominent members of both parties. —Hanna Trudo, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2024

My one bit of advice for budding authors would be to never give up. —Sonya Rehman, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English budde

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing bud

• bud scale
• cotton bud
• flower bud
• lateral bud
• leaf bud
• mixed bud
• nip (something) in the bud
• taste bud

Kids Definition

bud

1 of 2 noun

ˈbəd 

1

: a small growth at the tip or on the side of a plant stem that later develops into a flower, leaf, or new shoot

2

: a flower that has not fully opened

3

: a part that grows out from the body of a plant or animal and develops into a new individual

4

: a stage in which something is not yet fully developed

trees in bud

a plan still in the bud

bud

2 of 2 verb

budded; budding

1

: to set or put forth buds

2

: to be or develop like a bud (as in freshness and promise of growth)

a budding diplomat

3

: to reproduce by the pinching off of a small part of the parent

budding yeast cells

4

: to insert a bud from one plant into an opening cut in the bark of (another plant) in order to grow a desired variety

Medical Definition

bud

1 of 2 noun

ˈbəd 

1

a

: an asexual reproductive structure

b

: a primordium having potentialities for growth and development into a definitive structure

an embryonic limb bud

a horn bud

2

: an anatomical structure (as a tactile corpuscle) resembling a bud

bud

2 of 2 intransitive verb

budded; budding

: to reproduce asexually especially by the pinching off of a small part of the parent