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

Clumping bamboo such as Chinese Dwarf Bamboo (Bambusa multiplex ) can offer an evergreen screen or an accent to an Asian garden. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 June 2025

But even the best of them all, glyphosate sprays used at its top rate of application and applied in late spring/early summer when bamboo is growing most vigorously won’t give total control. —Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2025

The company has also planted some bamboo, hoping to muffle the noise of both the robotaxis and their human attendants. —Nick Watt, CNN Money, 25 June 2025

Dinner parties are hosted on the bamboo platform, where tables rise from the floor and drop from the ceiling. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 25 June 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