bulbous

adjective

bul·​bous ˈbəl-bəs How to pronounce bulbous (audio)
1
: having a bulb : growing from or bearing bulbs
2
: resembling a bulb especially in roundness
a bulbous nose
bulbously adverb

Examples of bulbous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Meters away, two humanoid robots, with bulbous joints and expressionless plastic domes for faces, stand at a desk. Billy Perrigo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025 Then came some tops and skirts in bulbous shapes — a clear nod to the cocoon silhouette that cemented Balenciaga in fashion history — as well as textured dresses, some with exaggerated trains that billowed with each step. Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025 This vegetable has a long neck and bulbous bottom, which can be tricky to cut. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025 The bulbous eyes at the vamp made the frogs impossible to miss against the casual layers. Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bulbous

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bulbous was in 1578

Cite this Entry

“Bulbous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulbous. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

bulbous

adjective
bulb·​ous
ˈbəl-bəs
1
: having a bulb : growing from or bearing bulbs
2
: resembling a bulb in being rounded or swollen
a bulbous nose

Medical Definition

bulbous

adjective
bul·​bous ˈbəl-bəs How to pronounce bulbous (audio)
: resembling a bulb especially in roundness or the gross enlargement of a part
the bulbous expansion at the base of a hair

More from Merriam-Webster on bulbous

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