1 C1 neutral
To propagate plants by inserting buds from one plant into the bark of another (bud grafting).
"The nurseryman budded up hundreds of rose varieties onto wild rose rootstocks."
separable
bud up
C1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
In horticulture, to propagate a plant by inserting a bud from one plant into the stem or rootstock of another; also, for a plant to form buds.
In plain English
A gardening technique where you take a bud from one plant and stick it into another plant so it grows there.
What does "bud up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
For a plant to produce buds, beginning a cycle of growth or flowering.
"The roses have finally budded up after all the warm weather we've been having."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To join a bud upward into a host plant or for buds to form upward on a stem.
Actually means
A gardening technique where you take a bud from one plant and stick it into another plant so it grows there.
Usage tip
Primarily a technical horticultural term. The grafting sense is used by professional growers. Rarely used outside of specialist gardening or agriculture contexts.
Words that pair with "bud up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
rootstock scion rose tree plant graft
How to conjugate "bud up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bud up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
buds up
he/she/it
Past simple
buded up
yesterday
Past participle
buded up
have + pp
-ing form
buding up
continuous
Hear "bud up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bud up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "bud up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
bud bud graft graft propagate
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.