noun

spud

spuhd

Spud (noun) means informal word for a potato. Example: “He tossed a few spuds into the stew.”

noun

Informal word for a potato.

"He tossed a few spuds into the stew."

"Fish and chips just needs good spuds and fresh oil."

A narrow tool similar to a spade, used for digging out weeds or roots.

"She used a spud to lever the dandelion roots out of the lawn."

verb

To begin drilling an oil well.

"The crew spudded the new well early Monday morning."

How to use spud

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEveryday slang for a potato; also a small digging tool, and in the oil industry, to start drilling.

When to use it

The potato sense is informal, everyday slang.

Common pairings

a few spuds spud gun spud the well

Word forms

spudded past tense, spuds plural, spuds singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “spud” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He tossed a few _____ into the stew.

Etymology

From a Middle English word for a small knife, probably related to Scandinavian words for a spear or spike; the potato sense may have started in Australian or New Zealand slang.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

View more →

shoot potato murphy sprout tater bourgeon germinate pullulate stump spud white potato burgeon forth

Related words

die film kill damn charge stock develop shoot

Rhymes for spud

pud

See all rhymes for spud →

Frequently asked questions

What does “spud” mean?

The word “spud” means informal word for a potato. In plain terms, everyday slang for a potato; also a small digging tool, and in the oil industry, to start drilling.

How do you pronounce “spud”?

“Spud” is pronounced spuhd (/spʌd/ in IPA).

How do you use “spud” in a sentence?

Here is “spud” used in a sentence: “He tossed a few spuds into the stew.”

What part of speech is “spud”?

Depending on how it is used, “spud” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “spud” come from?

The word “spud” comes from Middle English. From a Middle English word for a small knife, probably related to Scandinavian words for a spear or spike; the potato sense may have started in Australian or New Zealand slang.

How many meanings does “spud” have?

“Spud” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal word for a potato.

People also searched

die film kill damn charge stock develop shoot