Illustration of bulb
- 1 hyacinth
- 2 onion
- 3 tulip
- 4 lily
plural bulbs
1
a
: a resting stage of a plant (such as the lily, onion, hyacinth, or tulip) that is usually formed underground and consists of a short stem base bearing one or more buds enclosed in overlapping membranous or fleshy leaves
b
: a fleshy structure (such as a tuber or corm) resembling a bulb in appearance
c
: a plant having or developing from a bulb
2
: a bulb-shaped part
specifically
: a glass envelope enclosing the light source of an electric lamp or such an envelope together with the light source it encloses
3
: a rounded or swollen anatomical structure
4
: a camera setting that indicates that the shutter can be opened by pressing on the release and closed by ending the pressure
bulblike
adjective
or bulb-like
… a large underground rhizome, a bulblike growth that extends massive roots from its underside.
—
Elizabeth Schneider
Elizabeth Schneider
Examples of bulb in a Sentence
the bulb of the thermometer
Recent Examples on the Web
These genius self-watering bulbs automatically know when to water thirsty plants, making keeping indoor plants alive easy for green thumbs and novices alike.
—Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2024
But come dusk, as that glow dissipates, electric bulbs switch on, natural beauty fading into the industrial aura.
—Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 19 Nov. 2024
Halogen bulbs, on the other hand, might scorch your plants' leaves.
—London Gibson, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Nov. 2024
Spring bulbs are nothing short of magic in the garden.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bulb 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2024
But come dusk, as that glow dissipates, electric bulbs switch on, natural beauty fading into the industrial aura.
—Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 19 Nov. 2024
Halogen bulbs, on the other hand, might scorch your plants' leaves.
—London Gibson, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Nov. 2024
Spring bulbs are nothing short of magic in the garden.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bulb
Dictionary Entries Near bulb
Cite this Entry
“Bulb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulb. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bulb
noun1
a
: an underground resting stage of a plant (as an onion or tulip) consisting of a short stem base bearing one or more buds enclosed in overlapping leaves
b
: a fleshy structure (as a tuber or corm) resembling a bulb in appearance or function
2
: a rounded object or part shaped more or less like a bulb
a flashlight bulb
Medical Definition
bulb
noun1
: a rounded dilation or expansion of something cylindrical
the bulb of a thermometer
especially
: a rounded or pear-shaped enlargement on a small base
the bulb of an eyedropper
2
: a rounded part: as
a
: a rounded enlargement of one end of a part see bulb of the penis, bulb of the vestibule, end bulb, hair bulb, olfactory bulb
b
: medulla oblongata
broadly
: the hindbrain exclusive of the cerebellum
c
: a thick-walled muscular enlargement of the pharynx of certain nematode worms
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share