: any of a genus (Tulipa) of Eurasian bulbous herbs of the lily family that have linear or broadly lanceolate leaves and are widely grown for their showy flowers
also
: the flower or bulb of a tulip
Examples of tulip in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The front of the card features a skull and purple tulips at the bottom.
—
Julia Gomez, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Nets once used to protect tulips in the Netherlands are getting a new lease of life – protecting Ukrainian soldiers and civilians from Russian drones.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
Bulbs like daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths are a simple, inexpensive way to get pretty blooms that return year after year.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 31 Jan. 2026
The top of the holder is shaped like a glorious orange spring tulip, representing the crown of flowers a Swedish bride would wear.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tulip
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Julia Gomez, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Nets once used to protect tulips in the Netherlands are getting a new lease of life – protecting Ukrainian soldiers and civilians from Russian drones.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
Bulbs like daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths are a simple, inexpensive way to get pretty blooms that return year after year.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 31 Jan. 2026
The top of the holder is shaped like a glorious orange spring tulip, representing the crown of flowers a Swedish bride would wear.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tulip
Cite this Entry
“Tulip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tulip. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tulip
noun
tu·lip
ˈt(y)ü-ləp 
: any of a genus of Eurasian herbs that grow from bulbs, have large lance-shaped leaves, are related to the lilies, and are widely grown for their showy cup-shaped flowers
also
: the flower or bulb of a tulip
Etymology
from scientific Latin tulipa "the tulip," from Turkish tülbent "tulip," literally "turban"
Word Origin
We often think of the tulip as a Dutch flower. The Dutch certainly do grow many tulips, but they first got the plant from Turkey. The Turkish word for the tulip was tülbent, meaning literally "turban." Perhaps it was the flower's shape that reminded the Turks of a turban. Or perhaps it was the bright colors and velvety petals. In any case, scientists picking a universal word for the flower chose the scientific Latin tulipa, taken from the Turkish word. The word came into English from the scientific Latin and was spelled tulip.
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