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Definition of bulb
1a : a resting stage of a plant (such 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 leavesb : a fleshy structure (such as a tuber or corm) resembling a bulb in appearancec : 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
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Examples of bulb in a Sentence
the bulb of the thermometer
Recent Examples of bulb from the Web
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Thomas Edison’s incandescent bulb is the most ubiquitous example, the wire being tungsten filament.
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Damaged property includes a window, solar panels, light bulbs, cameras and the goldfish pond.
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The LA tattooer took to Instagram last night to show off Lucy's design — a tiny vintage light bulb on the back of her arm, just an inch or so above her elbow.
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The LA tattooer took to Instagram last night to show off Lucy's design — a tiny vintage light bulb on the back of her arm, just an inch or so above her elbow.
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The city has been talking with developers for about a year about the possibility of requiring concrete on the rounded bulb of the cul-de-sacs.
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The store specializes in rustic furniture and accessories to create the quintessential Southern vacation home—think distressed wood, Americana motifs, custom swing beds, wicker, Mason jars, tea towels, string bulb lights, and more.
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General Electric, the sprawling maker of jet engines, light bulbs, MRI machines and countless other products, is getting new leadership for the first time in 16 years.
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The structure of light bulbs are different now and certain colors have been discontinued, Thompson says, raising questions about which materials can substitute for the original without compromising an artwork’s legitimacy.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bulb'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of bulb
Origin and Etymology of bulb
Middle English, from Latin bulbus, from Greek bolbos bulbous plant
BULB Defined for English Language Learners
bulb
playDefinition of bulb for English Language Learners
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: a rounded part of some plants that is under the ground and that grows into a new plant during the growing season
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: a part that has a rounded shape
BULB Defined for Kids
bulb
playDefinition of bulb for Students
1 : light bulb
2 : a dormant stage of a plant that is formed underground and consists of a very short stem with one or more flower buds surrounded by special thick leaves
3 : a plant structure (as a tuber) that is somewhat like a bulb
4 : a rounded object or part the bulb of a thermometer
Medical Dictionary
bulb
playMedical Definition of bulb
1: a rounded dilation or expansion of something cylindrical the bulb of a thermometer; especially : a rounded or pear-shaped enlargement on a small base the bulb of an eyedropper
2: a rounded part: asa: a rounded enlargement of one end of a part—see bulb of the penis, bulb of the vestibule, end bulb, hair bulb, olfactory bulbb: medulla oblongata; broadly : the hindbrain exclusive of the cerebellumc: a thick-walled muscular enlargement of the pharynx of certain nematode worms
Learn More about bulb
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Spanish Central: Translation of bulb Nglish: Translation of bulb for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bulb for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bulb
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