bamboo

American  

[bam-boo] / bæmˈbu /

noun

plural

bamboos

1. any of the woody or treelike tropical and semitropical grasses of the genera Bambusa, Phyllostachys, Dendrocalamus, and allied genera, having woody, usually hollow stems with stalked blades and flowering only after years of growth.

2. the stem of such a plant, used as a building material and for making furniture, poles, etc.

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bamboo British  

/ bæmˈbuː /

noun

1. any tall treelike tropical or semitropical fast-growing grass of the genus Bambusa , having hollow woody-walled stems with ringed joints and edible young shoots ( bamboo shoots )

2. the stem of any of these plants, used for building, poles, and furniture

3. any of various bamboo-like grasses of the genera Arundinaria , Phyllostachys or Dendrocalamus

4. (modifier) made of bamboo

   a bamboo fence

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Etymology

Origin of bamboo

1590–1600; spelling variant of earlier bambu < Malay, apparently < Dravidian; compare Kannada bambu, bombu a large, hollow bam-boo (or directly < Dravidian); replacing bambus < Dutch bamboes; compare New Latin bambūsa

Example Sentences

Only in this instance, the home was not a Nipa hut made of bamboo but a home made of steel panels manufactured in a factory in Gardena and installed on-site.

From Los Angeles Times

Authorities also noted safety hazards associated with bamboo scaffolding, a longtime Hong Kong construction practice, and said they would discuss the gradual introduction of metal scaffolding.

From The Wall Street Journal

Officials have been looking at factors including the styrofoam panels and bamboo scaffolding use in a renovation project at the site.

From Barron's

The tower blocks were also covered in bamboo scaffolding, which is commonly used for construction and renovation work in Hong Kong.

From BBC

The tower blocks were also covered in bamboo scaffolding, which is commonly used in Hong Kong.

From BBC