tulip

noun

tu·​lip ˈtü-ləp 

ˈtyü-

: any of a genus (Tulipa) of Eurasian bulbous herbs of the lily family that have linear or broadly lanceolate leaves and are widely grown for their showy flowers

also : the flower or bulb of a tulip

Examples of tulip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The tulip flower is a popular Dutch symbol; the country has produced tulip flowers since the 16th century. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025

These wild tulip species are shorter and have smaller blooms than hybridized bulbs. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2025

Nederlandse Spoorwegen trains Route: Haarlem to Leiden, Netherlands Most tourists flock to Keukenhof Gardens to catch the tulip bloom that happens each year in mid-to-late April in the Netherlands. —Lyndsey Matthews, AFAR Media, 17 Mar. 2025

Nancy, through voiceover, describes a harmonious existence characterized by her loving family, their stately white home and the annual tulip festival. —Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin tulipa, from Turkish tülbent turban — more at turban

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tulip

• cottage tulip
• Darwin tulip
• tulip poplar
• tulip tree

Kids Definition

tulip

noun

tu·​lip ˈt(y)ü-ləp 

: any of a genus of Eurasian herbs that grow from bulbs, have large lance-shaped leaves, are related to the lilies, and are widely grown for their showy cup-shaped flowers

also : the flower or bulb of a tulip

Etymology

from scientific Latin tulipa "the tulip," from Turkish tülbent "tulip," literally "turban"

Word Origin

We often think of the tulip as a Dutch flower. The Dutch certainly do grow many tulips, but they first got the plant from Turkey. The Turkish word for the tulip was tülbent, meaning literally "turban." Perhaps it was the flower's shape that reminded the Turks of a turban. Or perhaps it was the bright colors and velvety petals. In any case, scientists picking a universal word for the flower chose the scientific Latin tulipa, taken from the Turkish word. The word came into English from the scientific Latin and was spelled tulip.