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
Put in only one or two flowers at a time and keep their height slightly above the tops of the bulbs.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 27 June 2024
The lamp comes with LED bulbs for soft-white lighting but can also fit standard light bulbs.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2024
Save yourself from kneeling down, back pain, and overworking your wrists; this genius bulb planter takes all the hassle out of getting ready for the next gardening season.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 June 2024
In the near term, sports appears to be keeping the lights on at the networks, although some executives can’t seem to stop firing BBs at the bulbs.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for bulb 
Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 27 June 2024
The lamp comes with LED bulbs for soft-white lighting but can also fit standard light bulbs.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2024
Save yourself from kneeling down, back pain, and overworking your wrists; this genius bulb planter takes all the hassle out of getting ready for the next gardening season.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 June 2024
In the near term, sports appears to be keeping the lights on at the networks, although some executives can’t seem to stop firing BBs at the bulbs.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for bulb
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bulb.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bulb
Cite this Entry
“Bulb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulb. Accessed 14 Jul. 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
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