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
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
T-Love
budded; budding
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
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
Synonyms
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 WebBetty Cahill, The Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2024
And nip allergy season in the bud with this best-selling Levoit air purifier.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
March 8 7 days from peak bloom 3°F warmer
March 10
6 days from peak bloom
1°F cooler
March 11
As temperatures rose early in the year, the cells in the bud became active and absorbed water from the branches of the tree.
—Harry Stevens, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
These buds are also super comfortable to wear and come in fun colors.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024
The rapid decriminalization and legalization of the drug, not to mention younger Americans’ preference for bud over booze, has created tremendous growth in the weed market.
—Irina Ivanova, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024
If daffodils are fully emerged and in bud or bloom, some damage may occur.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024
When teens and tweens are just starting to develop breast buds or feel some sensitivity in their nipples, a training bra is appropriate.
—Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024
Your hydrangea will set buds only if there are six weeks of temperatures below 65 degrees.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 18 Mar. 2024
Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2024
Use those budding art skills to make a gift that will spark all the heartwarming emotions.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024
Soon after, hikers will reach the pool of water — which looked to be around 4 feet deep in sections — and the waterfall, surrounded by budding sycamore and cottonwood trees.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2024
Set in a 19th-century building where Mozart once lived, the 99-room hotel marries the district’s budding creative energy with its historic bones.
—Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2024
The set debuts at No. 20 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, becoming the budding rapper’s best showing on the list.
—Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 28 Mar. 2024
The relaunch of The Archive Room signals Vestiaire Collective’s commitment to create a platform where both seasoned collectors and budding vintage enthusiasts can find one-of-a-kind items from across the globe.
—Maia Torres, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2024
The two Queens might be ahead of a budding trend, as The Zoe Report noted that Chanel and Miu Miu sent brooches down the runway this spring.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
The budding village is only for child care workers.
—Troy Aidan Sambajon, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
To simplify, examine the stems each spring and look for obvious swelling buds.
—Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2024
And nip allergy season in the bud with this best-selling Levoit air purifier.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
March 8 7 days from peak bloom 3°F warmer
March 10
6 days from peak bloom
1°F cooler
March 11
As temperatures rose early in the year, the cells in the bud became active and absorbed water from the branches of the tree.
—Harry Stevens, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
These buds are also super comfortable to wear and come in fun colors.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024
The rapid decriminalization and legalization of the drug, not to mention younger Americans’ preference for bud over booze, has created tremendous growth in the weed market.
—Irina Ivanova, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024
If daffodils are fully emerged and in bud or bloom, some damage may occur.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024
When teens and tweens are just starting to develop breast buds or feel some sensitivity in their nipples, a training bra is appropriate.
—Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024
Your hydrangea will set buds only if there are six weeks of temperatures below 65 degrees.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 18 Mar. 2024
Verb
The story doesn’t just focus on this budding romance.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2024
Use those budding art skills to make a gift that will spark all the heartwarming emotions.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024
Soon after, hikers will reach the pool of water — which looked to be around 4 feet deep in sections — and the waterfall, surrounded by budding sycamore and cottonwood trees.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2024
Set in a 19th-century building where Mozart once lived, the 99-room hotel marries the district’s budding creative energy with its historic bones.
—Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2024
The set debuts at No. 20 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, becoming the budding rapper’s best showing on the list.
—Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 28 Mar. 2024
The relaunch of The Archive Room signals Vestiaire Collective’s commitment to create a platform where both seasoned collectors and budding vintage enthusiasts can find one-of-a-kind items from across the globe.
—Maia Torres, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2024
The two Queens might be ahead of a budding trend, as The Zoe Report noted that Chanel and Miu Miu sent brooches down the runway this spring.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
The budding village is only for child care workers.
—Troy Aidan Sambajon, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bud.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bud
Cite this Entry
“Bud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bud. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bud
1 of 2 noun1
: 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 noun1
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
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