bamboo

noun

bam·​boo (ˌ)bam-ˈbü  ˈbam-ˌbü 

plural bamboos

often attributive

: any of various woody or arborescent grasses (as of the genera Bambusa, Arundinaria, and Dendrocalamus of the subfamily Bambusoideae) of tropical and temperate regions having hollow stems, thick rhizomes, and shoots that are used for food

also : the jointed stem of bamboo used especially for building, furniture, and utensils

Illustration of bamboo

Examples of bamboo in a Sentence

Bamboo grows in the grove near the house.

We cut down some bamboos.

Recent Examples on the Web

Rather than producing a steady supply of acorns year after year, oak trees operate on boom-and-bust cycles, much like certain species of bamboo which flower every 48 to 50 years. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025

The exhibit will include over three dozen glass and steel sculptures of sparkling butterflies, dragonflies, bamboo, bees and insects. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025

The PJs are made with 95 percent viscose from bamboo, a fabric known for its soft, breathable nature. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025

The fashion house’s founder Guccio Gucci decided to use the lightweight and durable bamboo as an alternative for the purse’s handle, supported by Florentine artisans in developing the design. —Denni Hu, WWD, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Malay bambu

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bamboo

• bamboo curtain
• bamboo shoots

Rhymes for bamboo

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• beaucoup
• bijou
• breakthrough

Kids Definition

bamboo

noun

bam·​boo bam-ˈbü 

plural bamboos

: any of various chiefly tropical tall woody grasses including some with strong hollow stems used for building, furniture, or utensils

also : the strong woody stem of bamboo

bamboo adjective