ROSEBUD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does rosebud mean? 

• ROSEBUD (noun)
  The noun ROSEBUD has 2 senses:

1. the bud of a rose

2. (a literary reference to) a pretty young girl

  Familiarity information: ROSEBUD used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ROSEBUD (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The bud of a rose

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Hypernyms ("rosebud" is a kind of...):

bud (a partially opened flower)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(a literary reference to) a pretty young girl

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("rosebud" is a kind of...):

fille; girl; miss; missy; young lady; young woman (a young female)

Domain category:

literature (creative writing of recognized artistic value)

 Context examples 

"These bits of lace are fastened under the chin with a rosebud, so," and Meg illustrated by putting on the bonnet and regarding him with an air of calm satisfaction that was irresistible.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“Then don't find fault with me,” said Dora, making a rosebud of her mouth; “and I'll be good.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

A dress of rose-coloured satin, very short, and as full in the skirt as it could be gathered, replaced the brown frock she had previously worn; a wreath of rosebuds circled her forehead; her feet were dressed in silk stockings and small white satin sandals.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"It's a love of a bonnet, but I prefer the face inside, for it looks young and happy again," and John kissed the smiling face, to the great detriment of the rosebud under the chin.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Bessie had been down into the kitchen, and she brought up with her a tart on a certain brightly painted china plate, whose bird of paradise, nestling in a wreath of convolvuli and rosebuds, had been wont to stir in me a most enthusiastic sense of admiration; and which plate I had often petitioned to be allowed to take in my hand in order to examine it more closely, but had always hitherto been deemed unworthy of such a privilege.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

John never asked to see it, but she always insisted on his doing so, and used to enjoy his masculine amazement at the queer things women wanted, and made him guess what piping was, demand fiercely the meaning of a hug-me-tight, or wonder how a little thing composed of three rosebuds, a bit of velvet, and a pair of strings, could possibly be a bonnet, and cost six dollars.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)