Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bulb

/ˈbʌlb/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.66 in modern English

Syllables
bulb
IPA
/ˈbʌlb/
8
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
3
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

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.

noun

The medulla oblongata.

Dated

noun

Any solid object rounded at one end and tapering on the other, possibly attached to a larger object at the tapered end.

noun

Any solid object rounded at one end and tapering on the other, possibly attached to a larger object at the tapered end.

noun

A bulbous protuberance at the forefoot of certain vessels to reduce turbulence.

noun

An onion.

Obsolete

verb

To take the shape of a bulb; to swell.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

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”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

Usage

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Medicine.

Inflected Forms

bulbs (plural) bulbs (present, singular) bulbing (participle, present) bulbed (participle, past) bulbed (past)

Derived Forms

bulbar bulbectomy bulbhead bulbheaded bulbitis bulbless bulblet bulblike bulboid bulbophile bulby endbulb

Phrases

bulb condenser bulb horn bulb-out bulb tee bus bulb curb bulb dim-bulb dim bulb

Frequently Paired Words

bulbiferous bulbil bulbous

Synonyms

light bulb lightbulb incandescent lamp electric light electric-light bulb medulla oblongata medulla

Questions

How do you pronounce bulb?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbʌlb/.
What does bulb mean?
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.
Where does bulb come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce bulb

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “bulb”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈbʌlb/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “bulb”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “bulb” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.