tuber

1 of 2

noun (1)

tu·​ber ˈtü-bər 

ˈtyü-

plural tubers

1

a

: a short fleshy usually underground stem bearing minute scale leaves each of which bears a bud in its axil and is potentially able to produce a new plant

Wireworms work beneath the soil, tunneling in the potato tubers and sometimes doing serious damage.

—Glenn Drowns

Manioc flour, made from cassava (a starchy tuber), is available at many Latin American markets.

—Paul Theroux

compare bulb, corm

b

: a fleshy root or rhizome resembling a tuber

2

: tuberosity

tuber

2 of 2

noun (2)

tub·​er ˈtü-bər 

ˈtyü-

plural tubers

: a person who engages in the sport or activity of riding an inner tube (as down a river or snowy slope) : one who participates in tubing

With so many tubers using the river, streambank erosion became a problem at popular exit points.

—Jerry Gerlach et al.

Skiers, snowboarders and snow tubers have seen everything Mother Nature can throw at them this winter.

—Ron Leonardi

Examples of tuber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Consider growing summer-blooming bulbs, corms, and tubers, including agapanthus, begonias, caladiums, calla lilies, canna lilies, dahlias, daylilies, gladiolus, iris, lilies and watsonias. —Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025

Native Americans gathered the tubers, cooked and ate them. —Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025

The name is a play on the cute, chunky thighs of babies that are reminiscent of a yam, the starchy tuber’s importance within the diaspora, as well as the traditions of midwifery and doula work that go way back. —Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 11 Apr. 2025

Plant so the tubers are pointing down and the eye is facing up, then cover them with 2 inches of soil. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Latin, swelling, truffle; perhaps akin to Latin tumēre to swell — more at thumb entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1968, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tuber

• gruber
• uber

Kids Definition

tuber

noun

tu·​ber ˈt(y)ü-bər 

1

: a short fleshy usually underground stem (as of a potato plant) having tiny scalelike leaves each with a bud at its base that can produce a new plant compare bulb sense 1a, corm

2

: a fleshy root or rhizome that resembles a tuber

Medical Definition

tuber

noun

tu·​ber ˈt(y)ü-bər 

: an anatomical prominence : tuberosity