[1] Though they come in many shapes and sizes, buns are most commonly round, and are generally hand-sized or smaller.

[2] In Ireland, a bun refers to a sweet cake,[3] roughly analogous to an American cupcake.

Buns are usually made from a dough of flour, milk, yeast and small amounts of sugar and/or butter.

Common sweet varieties contain small fruit or nuts, topped with icing or caramel, and filled with jam or cream.

Chinese baozi, with savory or sweet fillings, are often referred to as "buns" in English.