bamboo

Alternative forms

• bambu (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• enPR: băm-bo͞oʹ, IPA: /bæmˈbu/

Noun

bamboo (countable and uncountable, plural bamboos)

1. A fast-growing grass of the Bambusoideae subfamily, characterised by its woody, hollow, round, straight, jointed stem.
2. (uncountable) The wood of the bamboo plant as a material for building, furniture, etc.
3. (countable) A stick, rod, pole, or cane of bamboo, especially one used for corporal punishment.
4. (slang) A didgeridoo.
5. (slang) A member of the British military or British East India Company who spent so much time in Indonesia, India, or Malaysia that they never went back home.

Adjective

bamboo (not comparable)

1. Made of the wood of the bamboo.

Verb

bamboo (third-person singular simple present bamboos, present participle bambooing, simple past and past participle bambooed)

1. (transitive) To flog with a bamboo cane.
2. (transitive) To paint (furniture, etc.) to give it the appearance of bamboo.
3. (India, slang) To penetrate sexually.

Noun

bamboo

1. didgeridoo

Noun

bamboo

1. crocodile