tubular
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
having the shape of a long, hollow pipe or cylinder.
having the form or shape of a tube; cylindrical and typically hollow.
Simple“The bike frame is made from strong tubular steel to keep it light.”
In context“The modern office building featured a striking tubular glass exterior that allowed natural light to reach the central atrium from every angle.”
Synonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
an old-fashioned way to say something is very good or exciting.
a slang term used to express approval or excitement, specifically associated with 1980s American youth culture.
Simple“That wave was totally tubular, man.”
In context“The film used 'tubular' and other period-specific slang to parody the exaggerated surfer subculture of the mid-1980s.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is very dated and mostly used today to joke about 1980s surfer stereotypes; learners should avoid using it in serious conversation.
“Six years later, he unveiled a lightweight " Soybean Car ," built from 14 soy-derived plastic panels attached to a tubular steel frame.”
“We specifically focused on the tubular fossil Conotubus that lived during the Ediacaran period, which extends from approximately 635 million to 541 million years ago.”
From Latin tubulus + -ar. By surface analysis, tubule + -ar. The sense meaning "cool" or "awesome" is believed to be a figurative extension originating in surfing lingo, from the way that an excellent wave encloses a surfer within tubular walls of water.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.