bamboo

The word “bamboo” means a fast-growing woody grass with hollow, jointed stems, used for building and furniture. In plain terms, a tall, hollow-stemmed grass used for building, furniture, and food (for pandas), also used as an adjective for things made of it.

“Bamboo” is pronounced bam-BOO (/bæmˈbu/ in IPA).

Here is “bamboo” used in a sentence: “The fence was made entirely of bamboo poles.”

Depending on how it is used, “bamboo” can be a noun and an adjective.

The word “bamboo” comes from Dutch. Traced through Dutch and Portuguese back to a Kannada word, ultimately from a Dravidian root referring to the neem or similar tree.

“Bamboo” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Bamboo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fast-growing woody grass with hollow, jointed stems, used for building and furniture.

Bamboo is a fast-growing woody grass, not a true wood or tree, despite having hard, jointed stems that are often used like timber. This grass classification is why bamboo grows and regenerates much faster than conventional hardwood trees.

Bamboo is widely used for building and furniture because of its hollow, jointed stems, which are strong yet lightweight. The adjective form 'bamboo' also describes items made from this material, such as bamboo flooring or bamboo utensils.

Bamboo is often regarded as a more sustainable alternative to traditional wood because it is a fast-growing grass that regenerates quickly after harvesting. This rapid growth cycle is a key reason it is popular in eco-conscious construction and furniture design.