tulip
TOO-lihp
Tulip (noun) means a cup-shaped spring flower grown from a bulb, popular in gardens and famous for the varieties grown in the Netherlands. Example: “Fields of red and yellow tulips stretched to the horizon in Holland.”
noun
1
A cup-shaped spring flower grown from a bulb, popular in gardens and famous for the varieties grown in the Netherlands.
"Fields of red and yellow tulips stretched to the horizon in Holland."
How to use tulip
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA brightly coloured spring flower shaped like a cup, grown from a bulb.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tulip bulb
field of tulips
tulip season
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Word forms
- Plural
- tulips
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Fields of red and yellow _____ stretched to the horizon in Holland.
Etymology
From French tulipe, ultimately from Ottoman Turkish tülbent ("turban cloth"), because the shape of the flower reminded early European observers of a wound turban — making it a distant relative of the English word "turban."
Frequently asked questions
What does “tulip” mean?
The word “tulip” means a cup-shaped spring flower grown from a bulb, popular in gardens and famous for the varieties grown in the Netherlands. In plain terms, a brightly coloured spring flower shaped like a cup, grown from a bulb.
How do you pronounce “tulip”?
“Tulip” is pronounced TOO-lihp (/ˈtulɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “tulip” in a sentence?
Here is “tulip” used in a sentence: “Fields of red and yellow tulips stretched to the horizon in Holland.”
What part of speech is “tulip”?
“Tulip” is a noun.
Where does the word “tulip” come from?
The word “tulip” comes from French.
Is “tulip” a common word?
“Tulip” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
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