/ ˈbʌdi; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
( NAmE also bud ) ( informal ) a friend :
an old college buddy of mine
2.
(also bud ) (both NAmE ) used to speak to a man you do not know :
'Where to, buddy?' the driver asked.
3.
( especially NAmE ) a partner who does an activity with you so that you can help each other :
The school uses a buddy system to pair newcomers with older students.
■ verb
( bud·dies , buddy·ing , bud·died , bud·died )
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PHRASAL VERBS
- buddy up (to / with sb)
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 19th cent. (originally US): perhaps an alteration of brother , or a variant of butty , a term for a friend or workmate amongst miners.