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.
Clumping bamboo such as Chinese Dwarf Bamboo (Bambusa multiplex ) can offer an evergreen screen or an accent to an Asian garden. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 June 2025 But even the best of them all, glyphosate sprays used at its top rate of application and applied in late spring/early summer when bamboo is growing most vigorously won’t give total control. Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2025 The company has also planted some bamboo, hoping to muffle the noise of both the robotaxis and their human attendants. Nick Watt, CNN Money, 25 June 2025 Dinner parties are hosted on the bamboo platform, where tables rise from the floor and drop from the ceiling. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 25 June 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 4 Jul. 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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