I. ˈbəd noun
Etymology: Middle English budde
Date: 14th century
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: 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
•
- in the bud
II. verb
( bud·ded ; bud·ding )
Date: 14th century
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 (as 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
• bud·der noun