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# buddy

noun (a buddy, buddies); verb (buddy up, buddies up, buddied up, buddying up)

«buddy» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A buddy (informal) is a friend or partner. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buddy/#m1)
2. A buddy is a partner you are paired with to help and look after each other, as in a buddy system at school or when swimming. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buddy/#m2)
3. To buddy up is to pair up with someone as partners. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buddy/#m3)

### In the lessons

In school and safety: a reading buddy is an older pupil who reads with a younger one; a «buddy bench» in the playground is where children sit if they want someone to play with; in swimming, hiking and school trips the «buddy system» means each child keeps an eye on a partner, so nobody gets lost. Mostly American and Australian; British English often says «mate» or «friend». Phrases: «best buddy», «reading buddy», «buddy system», «buddy bench», «buddy up with».

### Examples

- Max is my best buddy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buddy/#x1)
- On the school trip, stay with your buddy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buddy/#x2)
- My reading buddy is in Year Six. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buddy/#x3)
- If you're lonely, sit on the buddy bench. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buddy/#x4)
- We buddied up for the science experiment. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buddy/#x5)
- Divers always swim with a buddy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buddy/#x6)
- Hey, buddy, can you help me? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buddy/#x7)
- Count your buddies before you leave the pool. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buddy/#x8)

### Note

Plural buddies (y → ies). Informal, so in formal writing use «friend» or «partner». «Hey, buddy» is friendly, though it can sound annoyed in some tones. Do not confuse with «body».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «buddy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buddy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«buddy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/buddy.html) on Mova free.