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Definition of bamboo
bamboo
/bæmˈbuː/
bam · boo
Plural:bamboos
bamboo Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
4
Tier
2
Usage
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• noun
1
A giant woody grass of the subfamily Bambusoideae within the grass family Poaceae, native primarily to tropical and warm temperate regions of Asia, the Americas, and Africa, characterized by its rapid growth and hollow, jointed stalks.
Example
"The giant panda's diet consists almost entirely of bamboo, requiring it to consume up to forty pounds of the tough stalks every day."
2
The hard, woody, and hollow stem of the bamboo plant, used widely as a versatile structural material for furniture, scaffolding, textiles, and various tools.
Example
"The artisans constructed a durable and beautiful outdoor dining set entirely out of lacquered bamboo."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for bamboo• Rhymes for bamboo
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Word Origin & Etymology
Late 16th century: from Dutch 'bamboe' or Portuguese 'bambu', derived from Malay 'mambu' or Kannada 'baṃbu'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bamboo. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bamboo