bud [budbudsbuddedbudding] noun, verb BrE [bʌd] NAmE [bʌd] noun 1. a small lump that grows on a plant and from which a flower, leaf or ↑stem develops •the first buds appearing in spring •The tree is in bud already. 2. a flower or leaf that is not fully open 3. (NAmE, informal) = ↑buddy •Listen, bud, enough of the wisecracks, OK? see also ↑cotton bud, ↑rosebud, ↑taste bud, see nip sth in the bud at ↑nipv.
Word Origin: n. senses 1 to 2 and v. late Middle English n. sense 3 mid 19th cent. ↑buddy
Collocations: The living world Animals animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on sth) fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs) birds fly/migrate/nest/sing insects crawl/fly/bite/sting insects/bees/locusts swarm bees collect/gather nectar/pollen spiders spin/weave a web snakes/lizards shed their skins bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate insect larvae grow/develop/pupate an egg/a chick/a larva hatches attract/find/choose a mate produce/release eggs/sperm lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast mark/enter/defend (a) territory stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey Plants and fungi trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower a seed germinates/sprouts leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form flower buds swell/open a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes sth pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores produce/bear fruit develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis Bacteria and viruses bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on sth bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize sth/cause disease bacteria break sth down/convert sth (into sth) a virus enters/invades sth/the body a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself) be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria contain/carry/harbour (especially US) harbor bacteria/a virus kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
