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

Explanation

Bamboo is a woody plant with a hollow stem that's in the grass family. When bamboo is harvested and processed, it can be used to make things like flooring, paper, and chopsticks. If bamboo is prepared correctly, it can be eaten — you'll find bamboo shoots in many Chinese dishes, for example. Without the right preparation, though, bamboo is toxic to humans. Many products are made from bamboo in part because it's one of the fastest-growing plants in the world. Bamboo is originally from the Dutch bamboe, which in turn comes from the Portuguese bambu. The root is thought to be the Malay word samambu.

Example Sentences

The Bamboo Room, a smaller bar within the sprawling Chicago tiki oasis Three Dots and a Dash, attracts a regular crowd of devotees who love its rum flights and elevated takes on tiki classics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

Bamboo contains several types of dietary fiber, including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.

From Science Daily • Jan. 16, 2026

Bamboo also provides essential amino acids, along with minerals such as selenium and potassium.

From Science Daily • Jan. 16, 2026

Bamboo scaffolding has been used in Hong Kong for centuries, because it grows quickly, is lightweight and very strong.

From BBC • Nov. 26, 2025

Bamboo poles morphed into snakes, slithering up my ankles, with thousands of people in the audience pointing at me.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio