When "budding" is used as a noun, what does it directly refer to?
Answer
A small outgrowth or a structure that is itself beginning to grow.
When "budding" functions as a noun, its meaning shifts from describing a process or state to naming the physical entity itself. In this usage, it names the nascent object, specifically defined as a small outgrowth or a projection that is actively starting its own development. This structure is key because it is not the final, mature form, but rather the precursor or undeveloped appendage that houses the potential for that mature structure to emerge later. This usage moves away from being purely descriptive of a process and becomes the designation for the nascent physical component.

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