n.
Pronunciation: ' b ə lb
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin bulbus, from Greek bolbos bulbous plant
Date: 15th century
1 a : a resting stage of a plant (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 (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
– bulbed \ ' b ə lbd \ adjective
bulb