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bulbar

American  
[buhl-ber, -bahr] / ˈbʌl bər, -bɑr /

adjective

  1. of or relating to a bulb, especially to the medulla oblongata.


bulbar British  
/ ˈbʌlbə /

adjective

  1. anatomy of or relating to a bulb, esp the medulla oblongata

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • nonbulbar adjective
  • postbulbar adjective

Etymology

Origin of bulbar

First recorded in 1875–80; bulb + -ar 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His legal career was cut short, however, by a bout with bulbar polio, which left part of his face paralyzed.

From New York Times

"Every week, I am rapidly declining from bulbar ALS which is caused by a mutation to my SOD1 gene," Stockman-Mauriello wrote on her change.org page when she started her campaign.

From Salon

My brother suffered the bulbar type of polio, the kind that can paralyze the circulatory and respiratory system, and his originated in the throat.

From Washington Post

In the first few weeks of the epidemic, 87% of those with bulbar or bulbospinal polio, in which the virus attacks the brainstem or nerves that control breathing, died.

From Nature

“All my symptoms are to do with bulbar muscles in my mouth and throat.”

From Fox News