bulbous

[ buhl-buhs ]

See synonyms for bulbous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

bulb-shaped; bulging.
having or growing from bulbs.

Origin of bulbous

From the Latin word bulbōsus, dating back to 1570–80. See bulb, -ous

Also bul·ba·ceous [buhl-bey-shuhs]. /bʌlˈbeɪ ʃəs/.

Other words from bulbous

bul·bous·ly, adverb
non·bul·ba·ceous, adjective
non·bul·bous, adjective

Words Nearby bulbous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bulbous in a sentence

While Crocs sells other footwear such as sandals, its bulbous foam-cushioned clogs are still the bulk of its business.
Crocs are now mainstream footwear, like it or not | Marc Bain | July 22, 2021 | Quartz
The input roots are critical for theta waves, but the bulbous body seems to support eta waves.
How Virtual Reality Unveiled a Unique Brain Wave That Could Boost Learning | Shelly Fan | July 6, 2021 | Singularity Hub
The metal shaft remained in the slot, but the bulbous plastic part, the one with the buttons, came off in my hand.
Gene Weingarten: Don’t just fix the problem. Kluge it. | Gene Weingarten | May 13, 2021 | Washington Post
When most recipes call for “fennel,” they are referring to the large, bulbous base and its thick, pale green leaves.
How to embrace fennel and add its subtle sweetness to your cooking | Aaron Hutcherson | March 26, 2021 | Washington Post
From mayo-slathered ears of corn to bulbous torta sandwiches, many of Australia-based Cienfuegos’s recipes evoke the late-night roadside fare beloved after an evening of drinking.
Take a culinary journey with these new travel-inspired cookbooks | Jen Rose Smith | January 22, 2021 | Washington Post

bulbous columns, winding staircases, and whimsical bas-reliefs of mythical creatures wrap around the palace.
The Postman Who Built a Palace in France…by Hand | Nina Strochlic | November 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
His greatest concern was to make sure the two bulbous microphones in front worked, bending them back and forth for maximum sound.
Why Did the Lawyers’ Post–Sandusky Conviction Comments Shield Penn State From Shame? | Buzz Bissinger | June 25, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
He has a bulbous-shaped face brought on by a combination of old age and his struggle with melanoma.
The Man Without a Face | Paul Szep | October 27, 2008 | THE DAILY BEAST
This consists of a tarred rope, or a flexible whip-stalk, three-fourths of an inch in diameter, with a swab or bulbous end.
Domestic Animals | Richard L. Allen
With constant care it grows thick and strong, upon a bulbous root that can be shaped into a handle.
McClure's Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 2, July, 1893 | Various
On the threshold of the doorway was a shadow—black and bulbous.
Scottish Ghost Stories | Elliott O'Donnell
He paused and indicated a large, bulbous figure under a sombrero, snoring peacefully in a sitting position at his side.
The Wasted Generation | Owen Johnson
He hooked one bulbous leg over a ladder rung and braced the other against a lower rung, hugging the ladder with both arms.
Tight Squeeze | Dean Charles Ing

British Dictionary definitions for bulbous

bulbous

/ (ˈbʌlbəs) /

adjective

shaped like a bulb; swollen; bulging
growing from or bearing bulbs

Derived forms of bulbous

bulbously, adverb

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

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