bamboo

[ bam-boo ]

/ bæmˈbu /

noun, plural bam·boos.

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.

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

Nearby words

bamberger's sign, bamberger-marie disease, bambi, bambino, bambocciata, bamboo, bamboo curtain, bamboo hair, bamboo network, bamboo shoots, bamboo turning

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bamboo

The young man weaves through clusters of bamboo and cuts a diagonal slash into a tree, positioning a hollow log at the end.
The Congo's Forgotten Colonial Getaway|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some facilities had begun erecting “bamboo hand washing stations” at the entrance to hospitals, but not enough.
$10,000 a Month for Ebola Fighters|Abby Haglage|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When she was young, the homes were made of bamboo and there were no cars or motorbikes.
A Little Too Off the Beaten Path in Burma|Katya Cengel|June 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tell that to the nearby pandas, happily ensconced with their bamboo, magnificently ignoring everything.
How to Catch a Depressed Gorilla, Japanese-Style|Tim Teeman|February 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The rooms are cold and the bamboo sticks are infused with aromas; each room exudes a different Japanese scent.
The Royal Academy Wants You to Finish This Artwork|Chloë Ashby|January 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In testing the function of these bows and their ability to shoot, a bamboo flight arrow made by Ishi was used as the standard.
Hunting with the Bow and Arrow|Saxton Pope
I thought you'd rather like a stroll through the bamboo grove, which everybody admires so much.
The Port of Adventure|Charles Norris Williamson and Alice Muriel Williamson
Europuai, the wild bush-girl, had been sulky all the time he was away, and she had given her a little beating with a bamboo.
Rodman The Boatsteerer And Other Stories|Louis Becke
My friend Dun, who had been badly wounded by a pangee (bamboo stake) had to be carried in.
My Experiences in Manipur and the Naga Hills|James Johnstone
The leaders of this deputation had their backs covered with bruises, made by the bamboo of the Swami!
From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan|Helena Pretrovna Blavatsky

British Dictionary definitions for bamboo

bamboo

/ (bæmˈbuː) /

noun

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)

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

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

(modifier) made of bambooa bamboo fence

Word Origin for bamboo

C16: probably from Malay bambu

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

Word Origin and History for bamboo

bamboo

1590s, from Dutch bamboe, from Portuguese bambu, earlier mambu (16c.), probably from Malay samambu, though some suspect this is itself an imported word.

bamboo

noun, plural bam·boos.

RELATED CONTENT

Nearby words

Origin of bamboo

Examples from the Web for bamboo

British Dictionary definitions for bamboo

bamboo

noun

Word Origin for bamboo

Word Origin and History for bamboo

bamboo