English Reference
noun · adjective · verb

bamboo

n. · adj. · v.
US /bæmˈbu/ bam·boo UK spelling bamboos

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    n.a tall tropical plant with hard, hollow stems that grows very quickly.

    n.any of the various fast-growing grasses of the subfamily Bambusoideae, characterized by hollow, jointed stems.

    Simple

    Pandas spend most of their day eating the leaves and shoots of bamboo.

    In context

    The botanical garden features a dense grove of timber bamboo that reaches heights of over twenty metres in a single season.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    n.the wood from the bamboo plant used to make things like floors or furniture.

    n.the harvested wood of the bamboo plant utilized as a sustainable material for construction, textiles, and furniture.

    Simple

    We decided to install bamboo flooring because it is environmentally friendly.

    In context

    Architects are increasingly specifying bamboo for structural elements due to its high strength-to-weight ratio and rapid renewability.

  3. 03 A2 Elementary

    adj.made from the wood or fibers of the bamboo plant.

    adj.constructed from or composed of bamboo wood or processed bamboo fibers.

    Simple

    She bought a set of bamboo steaming baskets for cooking dumplings.

    In context

    The artisan displayed a collection of bamboo flutes, each hand-carved to produce a unique tonal quality.

  4. 04 C2 Proficiency ArchaicFormal

    v.to hit someone with a stick made of bamboo as a punishment.

    v.to perform corporal punishment by striking an individual with a bamboo cane.

    Simple

    In the old school records, some students were bambooed for breaking the rules.

    In context

    Historical accounts of the colonial penal system describe how prisoners were frequently bambooed for even the most minor infractions of discipline.

    Usage

    This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated