tuberose

[ toob-rohz, tyoob-, too-buh-rohz, tyoo- ]

/ ˈtubˌroʊz, ˈtyub-, ˈtu bəˌroʊz, ˈtyu- /

a bulbous plant, Polianthes tuberosa, of the agave family, cultivated for its spike of fragrant, creamy-white, lily-like flowers.

Origin of tuberose

1655–65; < New Latin tuberosa, the specific epithet, feminine of Latin tūberōsus tuberose²

tuberose ²

[ too-buh-rohs, tyoo- ]

/ ˈtu bəˌroʊs, ˈtyu- /

tuberous.

First recorded in 1695–1705, tuberose is from the Latin word tūberōsus knobby. See tuber¹, -ose¹

This is the Tuberose, a liliaceous plant, so commonly cultivated in our conservatories.

The Romance of Natural History, Second Series |Philip Henry Gosse
He gathered the tuberose and took it with him to his chamber.

The Flower Princess |Abbie Farwell Brown
And please, if they bring any gardenia or tuberose, make them take it away, like the calceolarias.

The House of Defence v. 1 |E. F. Benson
And though he cannot pronounce ‘tuberose’ aright, at least he can sing of it exquisitely.

Reviews |Oscar Wilde

In her hands she carried the fragments of the pot which had held the tuberose.

A Book o' Nine Tales. |Arlo Bates

tuberose

a perennial Mexican agave plant, Polianthes tuberosa, having a tuberous root and spikes of white fragrant lily-like flowers

a variant of tuberous

C17: from Latin tūberōsus full of lumps; referring to its root