tuberose
tuberose Lexical Profile
tuberose Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A Mexican bulbous perennial plant (Agave amica, formerly Polianthes tuberosa) in the asparagus family, widely cultivated for its tall spikes of waxy, funnel-shaped, intensely fragrant white flowers used in perfumery and floral arrangements.
"A single stem of blooming tuberose in the vase filled the entire living room with a rich, heady fragrance."
• adjective
Having or growing from a tuber; covered with knobby swellings or tubercles.
"The botanist carefully excavated the tuberose root system to avoid damaging the underground storage organs."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite its spelling, 'tuberose' is unrelated to the rose and is traditionally pronounced as two syllables ('TOO-brohz') or three ('TOO-buh-rohz'), rather than 'tube-rose', as it derives from the Latin 'tuberosa' referring to its tuberous root.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 17th century from French 'tubéreuse' or directly from Latin 'tuberosa' (the feminine of 'tuberosus', meaning 'full of lumps or swellings'), shortened from the pre-Linnaean botanical name 'hyacinthus tuberosus' ('tuberous hyacinth').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.