What does the term ‘pudding’ mean to you? (this is a poll, not a debate)
If it describes something specific, be as detailed as possible.
If it describes a whole category of stuff, try to define the boundaries (and mention what things that lie beyond those boundaries are called)
If it describes multiple categories of things, explain whether they are related only by the term ‘pudding’, or are related in some other, non-semantic, actual way…
It may also be as well to include a note about where in the world you live, or originate - as the differences of view here are highly likely to be regional/national.
For me (and in the UK in general, I suspect), it can mean almost anything, including (but almost certainly not limited to):
-A generic term for dessert i.e. ‘What’s for pudding’
-One of a range of cold or hot milk-based desserts, such as rice pudding, tapioca pudding, semolina pudding - these are all just something starchy, baked or boiled with milk and sugar. Not blancmange though, which may be eaten* for pudding*, but is not A pudding.
-A steamed suet dumpling with syrup, jam or fruit, served as a dessert course.
-A Steamed suet dumpling filled/stuffed (or occasionally just suffused) with meat or other savoury items, served as a main course.
-Certain varieties of sausage, particularly black pudding (a blood sausage), white pudding (chiefly oats and suet), etc. Often having origins as peasant/poverty foods.
-Assorted other things that are assembled from a multitude of ingredients, then steamed or baked - for example Christmas pudding (which is really a kind of very fruity fruitcake-style dumpling, or bread pudding (which is a kind of fruit cake based on pieces of leftover bread).
That’s almost certainly an incomplete list. I get the impression this might be a word as old as the English language itself.