Bunting is decorative fabric, usually in the form of colorful strips or triangular flags, hung up to celebrate special occasions. You've probably seen red, white, and blue bunting draped across stages during Fourth of July celebrations, or bright bunting strung between trees at a school carnival. The fabric often hangs in graceful loops called swags or is arranged as a row of cheerful triangular pennants.

Bunting transforms ordinary spaces into festive ones. A plain gymnasium becomes exciting when decorated with bunting for a school dance. Government buildings display patriotic bunting during elections and national holidays. The tradition goes back centuries: ships once flew bunting to celebrate victories at sea, and towns would hang it across main streets for parades and celebrations.

In baseball, to bunt means something completely different: lightly tapping the ball with the bat instead of taking a full swing. A player bunts by holding the bat steady and letting the ball bounce off it, hoping to catch the fielders off guard. It's a strategic move that requires timing and control, useful when you need to advance a runner or get on base when the defense isn't expecting it.