bamboo

noun

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

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
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.
Lizards scampered up bamboo, dragonflies kissed the water, and hummingbirds darted from pod to petal. Marlise Kast-Myers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025 Layers of ferns, agave, bamboo, natural stone, and myrtle create a lush and textured space that still feels serene. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2025 Old Habit: Planting a Fast-Spreading Plant to Fill In an Empty Garden Space English ivy, ajuga, bamboo, mint, and wisteria all look so tempting in their small containers at the garden center. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2025 Wear clothes made from 100% cotton, linen or bamboo. Cody Godwin, USA Today, 30 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for bamboo

Word History

Etymology

Malay bambu

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bamboo was in 1586

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bamboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bamboo. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

bamboo

noun
bam·​boo bam-ˈbü How to pronounce bamboo (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on bamboo

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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