Word
bulbous
Phoneticsbul·bous, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbəɫbəs/
UK/bˈʌlbəs/
Definition
adj. round and fat like an onion or a light bulb. You use it to describe things like noses, roots, or glass that swell out in a round shape.
adj. swollen, rounded, and shaped like a bulb or onion, often protruding outward. In botany, growing from or producing bulbs.
Examples
“He has a large bulbous nose.”
“The gardener plants the bulbous tulips in autumn so they bloom in spring.”
“Despite the frost, the bulbous roots stored enough energy to send up fresh green shoots when spring returned.”
Examples
simple
“He has a large bulbous nose.”
contextual
“The gardener plants the bulbous tulips in autumn so they bloom in spring.”
complex
“Despite the frost, the bulbous roots stored enough energy to send up fresh green shoots when spring returned.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “bulbous” in context.
Verb
01. become bulbous
“As he got older, his nose seemed to become bulbous and red.”
verb + adj
02. look bulbous
“The roots look bulbous and swollen after the heavy rain.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. distinctly bulbous
“The vase has a distinctly bulbous base that tapers to a narrow neck.”
adv + adj
04. slightly bulbous
“His nose was slightly bulbous at the end, giving his face character.”
adv + adj
Noun
05. bulbous nose
“The cartoon villain was drawn with a large bulbous nose.”
adj + noun
06. bulbous onion
“She sliced a fresh bulbous onion for the soup.”
adj + noun
07. bulbous root
“The gardener dug up a thick bulbous root for cooking.”
adj + noun
08. bulbous shape
“The light bulb has a familiar bulbous shape.”
adj + noun
09. bulbous tip
“The surgeon reshaped the bulbous tip of her nose.”
adj + noun
10. a bulbous red nose
“The old sailor had a bulbous red nose from years in the cold wind.”
11. grow bulbous with age
“Certain tree roots naturally grow bulbous with age to store water.”
12. slightly bulbous at the tip
“His nose is slightly bulbous at the tip, just like his father's.”
Real-World Examples
“If you’re unfamiliar, Squishmallows are bulbous, pillowy creatures filled with cloudlike fiber.” “This is a lamp with a bulbous glass base that doubles as a terrarium and is lit by the lamp's lightbulb.” “Onions (and their bulbous cousins, garlic and shallots) are our kitchen workhorses, ever dependable — until they’re not.” “Traditionally, when farmers harvest bananas, they leave behind the large, bulbous trunks, allowing them to decay and go to waste.” Etymology
From bulb + -ous or alteration of Latin bulbosus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/bulbous