bulb

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points: 8
Words With Friends: 12
Letters: 4

Pronunciation

/ˈbʌlb/

See all 2 pronunciations

/ˈbʌlb/ · /ˈbʌb/

Definition of bulb

7 senses · 2 parts of speech · etymology included

noun

The bulb-shaped underground portion of a plant such as a tulip, consisting of a shortened stem and many fleshy scale leaves, from which the rest of the plant may be regrown.

“the plants which grow in the earth from seed or bulbs.”
“Once it [a snowdrop variety] became established, some bulbs were lifted and passed on to be chipped (i.e. cut into small pieces and grown on).”

See all 7 definitions

noun

The bulb-shaped underground portion of a plant such as a tulip, consisting of a shortened stem and many fleshy scale leaves, from which the rest of the plant may be regrown.

“the plants which grow in the earth from seed or bulbs.”
“Once it [a snowdrop variety] became established, some bulbs were lifted and passed on to be chipped (i.e. cut into small pieces and grown on).”
(dated)The medulla oblongata.
Any solid object rounded at one end and tapering on the other, possibly attached to a larger object at the tapered end.

“the bulb of the aorta”
Any solid object rounded at one end and tapering on the other, possibly attached to a larger object at the tapered end.

“an incandescent bulb”
“an LED bulb”
“a fluorescent tube bulb”
A bulbous protuberance at the forefoot of certain vessels to reduce turbulence.
(obsolete)An onion.

verb

(intransitive)To take the shape of a bulb; to swell.

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

Etymology tree Ancient Greek βολβός (bolbós)bor. Latin bulbusder. English bulb Inherited from Middle English bulb, bolbe, from Latin bulbus (“bulb, onion”), from Ancient Greek βολβός (bolbós, “plant with round swelling on underground stem”).