tuber
UK: ˈtjuːbə | US: ˈtuːbər
n. 1. A thickened, fleshy underground stem of a plant (e.g., potato).
n. 2. (Anatomy) A rounded swelling or nodule.
The word tuber traces back to Latin tuber, which referred to natural swellings like tumors or plant growths. This root reflects the word’s core idea of a rounded, protuberant form. Over time, it specialized in botany for swollen underground stems (e.g., potatoes) and in anatomy for nodular structures. The suffix -er solidifies its noun form, preserving the original Latin structure.
Potatoes are a well-known example of a tuber.
The plant stores nutrients in its tuber during winter.
The doctor identified a small tuber on the patient’s bone scan.
Farmers harvest tubers like yams and cassava for food.
The tuber’s surface had several small buds ready to sprout.