# bun

/ˈbən/ (US) · /bˈʌn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bun
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. bread roll

noun · CEFR A2

a small, round piece of bread, often used for burgers or sandwiches.

For teachers: a small, typically round bread roll, often sweetened or used as a vessel for savoury fillings like burgers.

- He placed the grilled burger on a toasted sesame bun.
- The bakery specialises in artisanal brioche buns, which provide a rich and buttery base for their signature sandwiches.

### 2. sweet cake

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

a small, sweet cake, sometimes containing fruit or topped with icing.

For teachers: a small sweet cake or bread, frequently containing dried fruit or spices.

- We had tea and a sticky cinnamon bun at the café.
- In many British households, toasted currant buns are a traditional accompaniment to afternoon tea during the winter months.

### 3. hairstyle

noun · CEFR B1

hair pulled back and fastened into a round shape at the back of the head.

For teachers: a hairstyle in which the hair is drawn back and coiled into a tight, rounded mass.

- She tied her long hair into a neat bun before the ballet class.
- The professional dress code required employees to keep their hair in a conservative bun or a similar tidy arrangement.

### 4. buttocks

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal · Slang

a slang word for the buttocks.

For teachers: a slang term for the buttocks, almost exclusively used in the plural form.

- He spent all day at the gym working on his buns.
- The fitness instructor promised that these specific squats would help tone the participants' buns within a few weeks.

### 5. rabbit

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a cute or childish name for a rabbit.

For teachers: a hypocoristic or childish shortening of 'bunny', referring to a rabbit.

- The little bun hopped across the garden and hid under a bush.
- The children were delighted to see a tiny bun nibbling on the clover in the backyard.

### 6. to style hair

verb · CEFR B2

to pull your hair back into a round bun shape.

For teachers: to arrange or fasten the hair into a bun.

- She bunned her hair quickly so she could start her workout.
- After washing her hair, she bunned it loosely to keep it out of her face while she applied her makeup.

## Examples

- I bought a fresh bun for my lunch.
- She split the warm bun and filled it with ham and cheese.
- The bakery's signature sourdough bun, with its crisp exterior and airy crumb, became the preferred vessel for the city's most popular gourmet burgers.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.