bun

¹ American  

[buhn] / bʌn /

noun

1. any of a wide variety of variously shaped bread rolls, usually leavened and slightly sweetened or plain, sometimes containing spices, dried currants, etc.

2. hair gathered into a round coil or knot at the nape of the neck or on top of the head in certain coiffures.

3. Slang. buns, the buttocks.

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bun ² American  

[buhn] / bʌn /

idioms

1. have a bun on, to be intoxicated.

   Everyone at the party seemed to have a bun on.

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BUN ³ American  

abbreviation

1. blood urea nitrogen: the concentration of nitrogen in the blood in the form of urea, indicating kidney function.

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bun British  

/ bʌn /

noun

1. a small roll, similar to bread but usually containing sweetening, currants, spices, etc

2. any of various types of small round sweet cakes

3. a hairstyle in which long hair is gathered into a bun shape at the back of the head

4. slang to be pregnant

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Etymology

Origin of bun¹

1325–75; Middle English bunne, possibly of Romance origin; buñuelo ( def. )

Origin of bun²

First recorded in 1900–05; of uncertain origin

Origin of BUN³

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

She ended up wearing her hair in a visible bun as a compromise, the complaint states.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Cakes and desserts are a big inspiration for his team, and they're proud of a new hot cross bun inspired by carrot cake.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

On it was a cartoon likeness of a smiling, winking chef with a face shaped like a hamburger bun and, in big red letters, the word “McDonald’s.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Undo the tight, slicked back bun and bring in halo dyed hair, dark eyeliner and the piercing she did herself on the inside of her upper lip.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

Ma always wore her own hair in a low bun, and I’d half expected the hairdo to be matronly like hers.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Related Words

• bread
• doughnut
• muffin
• pastry
• scone