bun

¹

[ buhn ]

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. buns, Slang. the buttocks.

bun

²

[ buhn ]

BUN

³

abbreviation for

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

bun

/ 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. have a bun in the oven slang.
   have a bun in the oven to be pregnant

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bun¹

C14: of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. have a bun on, Slang. to be intoxicated:

   Everyone at the party seemed to have a bun on.

Example Sentences

Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions—on a sesame seed bun.

From The Daily Beast

On Monday, Nicole Richie debuted her latest Technicolor hairstyle—a side-swept Cerulean low bun—on Good Morning America.

From The Daily Beast

It is built not in a long bun, but in a half-loaf of fresh, tawny-crusted Italian bread.

From The Daily Beast

The meat glistened seductively with melted butter, piled high and steaming on top of a crisp, oily split-top bun.

From The Daily Beast

No mayonnaise, only butter, which had been absorbed, sponge-style, into the bun.

From The Daily Beast

I carried mine in my long, luxuriant hair, which I wore “bun” fashion, held in a net of opossum hair.

From Project Gutenberg

Add bun to these terms, and they are made to have passed away,—prefix tah to them, and their future appearance is indicated.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the features of Michaelmas in Scotland was the concoction and cooking of a giant cake, bun, or bannock.

From Project Gutenberg

Her eyes looked like raisins in a bun and her mouth had almost disappeared.

From Project Gutenberg

I purchased an enormous delicacy just as one would buy a bun under ordinary stances.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bread
• doughnut
• muffin
• pastry
• scone