bulb

Meaning

Noun

1. The bulb-shaped underground portion of a plant such as a tulip, consisting of a shortened stem and many fleshy scale leaves, from which the rest of the plant may be regrown.
2. (dated) The medulla oblongata.
3. Any solid object rounded at one end and tapering on the other, possibly attached to a larger object at the tapered end.
4. Any solid object rounded at one end and tapering on the other, possibly attached to a larger object at the tapered end.
5. A bulbous protuberance at the forefoot of certain vessels to reduce turbulence.
6. (obsolete) An onion.

Verb

To take the shape of a bulb; to swell.

Synonyms

light bulb

tuber

incandescent lamp

onion

🧅

electric light

balloon

🎈

globe

lightbulb

💡

electric bulb

electric-light bulb

medulla oblongata

lamp bulb

medulla

retort

electric light bulb

flask

flashlamp

gizzard

globule

glomerule

glomerulus

glow lamp

glow-lamp

grain

incandescent

nut

pellet

pipette

pod

potato

🥔

root

sac

seed

spherulite

tumor

vesicle

gas cylinder

lamp globe

jacketing

esculent root

sound bow

bulbus

air collector

light globe

medullary bulb

Tubar

incandescent light bulb

ampoule

ampulla

blister

Translations

bulbe

💡

ampoule

bombilla

bulbo

💡

lampadina

bulbo

💡

Zwiebel

🧅

Glühbirne

bombeta

Glühlampe

bulbo

💡

βολβός

gloeilamp

peer

🍐

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbʌlb/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: bulb

In summary

Etymology tree
Ancient Greek βολβός (bolbós)bor.
Latin bulbusder.
English bulb
Inherited from Middle English bulb, bolbe, from Latin bulbus (“bulb, onion”), from Ancient Greek βολβός (bolbós, “plant with round swelling on underground stem”).