bulbous

adjective

bul·​bous ˈbəl-bəs 

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

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

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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 

: resembling a bulb especially in roundness or the gross enlargement of a part

the bulbous expansion at the base of a hair