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bud(1) (iou)



bud noun1. LME.
[Origin unkn.]
a. A rudiment of a shoot, flower, or foliage; a leaf or flower not yet fully open. LME.
in bud putting forth buds. nip in the bud fig. destroy at an early stage of development. red bud: see RED adjective.
b. Zoology. A growth which later separates to form a new individual asexually. M19.
Anything resembling a bud, esp. in respect of shape or of immature state of development; spec. (a) a child, a youngster; (b) dial. a yearling calf; (c) colloq. (chiefly US) a debutante; (d) the rudiment of a horn or of an insect's leg or other appendage when it begins to sprout; (e) a small wad of cotton wool etc. on a stick. L16.
Comb.: budworm a grub or caterpillar destructive to buds.
budless adjective M19.
budlet noun a small or secondary bud M19.