bulb
UK: bʌlb | US: bʌlb
n. 1. A rounded underground storage organ present in some plants, consisting of a short stem surrounded by fleshy scale leaves.
n. 2. An electric lamp consisting of a glass container with a filament that emits light when heated.
n. 3. Any rounded or swollen part resembling a plant bulb.
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The word "bulb" originates from the Latin bulbus, meaning "onion" or "bulbous plant," which itself derives from the Greek bolbos. Initially referring to plant structures like onions or tulips, its meaning expanded in the 19th century to include the glass-enclosed electric light device due to its similar rounded shape. The term retains its core association with roundness and swelling across contexts.
She planted tulip bulbs in the garden last autumn.
The room was dimly lit by a single bare bulb.
The chef finely chopped the garlic bulb for the sauce.
Modern LED bulbs are more energy-efficient than incandescent ones.
A bulb of mercury expanded in the thermometer as the temperature rose.