bulbous
Americanadjective
-
shaped like a bulb; swollen; bulging
-
growing from or bearing bulbs
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bulbous
From the Latin word bulbōsus, dating back to 1570–80. See bulb, -ous
Explanation
Something that's bulbous is round or bulging. If you hit your head on the edge of your locker, you may end up with a tender, bulbous lump. While anything that has the shape of a bulb — like an onion or a light bulb — can be described as bulbous, it almost always describes someone's nose. It's not very nice to tell your friend he has a bulbous nose, though it may be accurate. You can also call a plant bulbous if it's grown from a bulb. This is the earliest, 16th century use of the word, while the "bulb-shaped" meaning came along about 200 years later.
Vocabulary lists containing bulbous
"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
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The Dragonet Prophecy
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The Maze Runner
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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.
Early designs were so ugly—with an unflattering roof line that gave the vehicle a bulbous appearance—that some frustrated employees began calling the vehicle the “white whale.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026
It featured floral motifs on fabrics or as accessories, while sculptural bulbous dresses were inspired by the work of Kenya-born ceramicist Magdelene Odundo.
From Barron's ● Jan. 26, 2026
According to company lore, Harmsworth took inspiration for the bottles' bulbous shape from the Indian clubs he used for exercise following a crippling car accident.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2025
They’re uncomfortably wedged into black dress shoes, with bulbous flesh spilling out over the edges.
From Slate ● Jul. 18, 2025
That black greasy chassis, that bulbous differential was his only home.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
