bulbs

noun

A light bulb (not necessarily bulbous in shape).

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.

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

(nautical) A bulbous protuberance at the forefoot of certain vessels to reduce turbulence.

(dated, neuroanatomy) The medulla oblongata.

(obsolete) An onion.

verb

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

Roots

bolbosbulb- · Greek · onion, bulb

Synonyms & related words for bulbs

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Words related to bulbs

Explore words related to bulbs — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include bulbiferous, bulbil, lamps, incandescent, lights, electrolier, lighting, candent. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does bulbs come from?

The word bulbs breaks down into one root of Greek origin: the root bulb-, from Greek bolbos (“onion, bulb”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.