bamboo

noun

bam·​boo (ˌ)bam-ˈbü How to pronounce bamboo (audio) ˈbam-ˌbü How to pronounce bamboo (audio)
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.
Single-use plastics are being phased out—think bamboo straws and reusable fabric laundry bags—and refillable amenities are becoming the standard. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026 The area around my hometown was once a famous silk-producing region, and my grandparents kept silkworms in six-foot-wide bamboo trays. — Jonathan Flint, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 For 15 days, devotees pray and make offerings before a towering paper-and-bamboo effigy of Da Shi Ye. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 Delicate Fabrics Delicate fabrics like bamboo, rayon, and modal are prone to pilling, notes Van. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026 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

Phrases Containing bamboo

Rhymes for bamboo

See All Rhymes for bamboo

Browse Nearby Words

bamboche
bamboo
bamboo borer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bamboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bamboo. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bamboo

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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