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

Many types of plants go through dormancy, including herbaceous perennials, deciduous trees, flower bulbs such as tulips and daffodils, turfgrasses, and tropical houseplants such as cyclamen and oxalis. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2025

Just like garlic, spring flowers like tulips, daffodils, and snowdrops need to be planted in the fall to bloom. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025

Yet before the recruitment can take place, the children vanish after touching white tulips seen near the crime scenes. —Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 8 Nov. 2025

Or felt an overwhelming sense of joy as your tulips appeared in the spring? —The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 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.