bulb

[ buhlb ]
/ bʌlb /

noun

Origin of bulb

1560–70; < Latin bulbus < Greek bolbós onion, bulbous plant

OTHER WORDS FROM bulb

bulbed, adjective bulb·less, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for bulb

British Dictionary definitions for bulb

bulb
/ (bʌlb) /

noun

a rounded organ of vegetative reproduction in plants such as the tulip and onion: a flattened stem bearing a central shoot surrounded by fleshy nutritive inner leaves and thin brown outer leaves Compare corm
a plant, such as a hyacinth or daffodil, that grows from a bulb
a rounded part of an instrument such as a syringe or thermometer
anatomy a rounded expansion of a cylindrical organ or part, such as the medulla oblongata
Also called: bulbous bow a bulbous protuberance at the forefoot of a ship to reduce turbulence

Word Origin for bulb

C16: from Latin bulbus, from Greek bolbos onion

Medical definitions for bulb

bulb
[ bŭlb ]

n.

A globular or fusiform anatomical structure or enlargement.

Scientific definitions for bulb

bulb
[ bŭlb ]

A rounded underground storage organ that contains the shoot of a new plant. A bulb consists of a short stem surrounded by fleshy scales (modified leaves) that store nourishment for the new plant. Tulips, lilies, and onions grow from bulbs. Compare corm rhizome runner tuber.