1. n. & v.
--n.
1. a an immature knoblike shoot from which a stem, leaf, or flower develops. b a flower or leaf that is not fully open.
2 Biol. an asexual outgrowth from a parent organism that separates to form a new individual.
3 anything still undeveloped.
--v. (budded, budding)
1. intr. Bot. & Zool. form a bud.
2 intr. begin to grow or develop (a budding cricketer).
3 tr. Hort. graft a bud (of a plant) on to another plant.
Phrases and idioms:
in bud having newly formed buds.
Etymology: ME: orig. unkn. 2. n. US colloq. (as a form of address) BUDDY.
Etymology: abbr.