bulbous

adjective

bul·​bous ˈbəl-bəs How to pronounce bulbous (audio)
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 By comparison, Types 3 and 5 labrets had shorter, more bulbous shafts — better-suited for lip wear. Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 This evergreen sends odd bulbous roots everywhere, including up the trunks of surrounding trees. Douglas Main, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024 In one typical untitled painting from 1968, a bulbous white form pauses in front of large blocks of yellow, reddish orange and lavender. Will Heinrich, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024 While the group stopped every 15 seconds to take pictures and buy souvenirs, Ruiz stayed on point, picking out a whole chicken, bright yellow feet still attached; a big, bulbous squash; tomatoes and tomatillos; avocado leaves; thyme and oregano. Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2024 As the twinkle of bulbous holiday ornaments fade away, the gilded glisten of the 2024 Golden Globes arrives, and EW has some bold predictions for winners in the major categories that could be handed out during Sunday's ceremony. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2024 Striking decorative elements — from the bulbous pendant chandeliers to the lacquered bright blue side tables — add even more visual interest. Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 3 Feb. 2024 The low-slung vehicle has a design reminiscent of the sports prototypes that compete at Le Mans each year, with bulbous fenders, a bubble cockpit, and a giant rear wing. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 17 Jan. 2024 The signature elements are a cartoonish clown smile and a bulbous nose that people can use as a sort of mug handle. Julia Carmel, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bulbous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bulbous was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near bulbous

Cite this Entry

“Bulbous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulbous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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 How to pronounce bulbous (audio)
: resembling a bulb especially in roundness or the gross enlargement of a part
the bulbous expansion at the base of a hair

More from Merriam-Webster on bulbous

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