n. 1 any bulbous spring-flowering plant of the genus Tulipa, esp. one of the many cultivated forms with showy cup-shaped flowers of various colours and markings. 2 a flower of this plant. tulip-root a disease of oats etc. causing the base of the stem to swell. tulip-tree any of various trees esp. of the genus Liriodendron, producing tulip-like flowers . tulip-wood a fine-grained pale timber produced by the n. American tree Liriodendron tulipifera.
[ orig. tulipa(n) f. mod.L tulipa f. Turk. tul(i)band f. Pers. dulband TURBAN (from the shape of the expanded flower) ]