the hard woody stems of bamboo plants; used in construction and crafts and fishing poles
"The carpenter cut thick sections of bamboo to build a sturdy fence around the garden."
woody tropical grass having hollow woody stems; mature canes used for construction and furniture
"The carpenter harvested the tall bamboo to craft sturdy floorboards and elegant chairs."
A fast-growing grass of the Poaceae family, characterised by its woody, hollow, round, straight, jointed stem, all of which are in the Bambuseae tribe.
"The towering bamboo stalks, with their characteristic woody and hollow stems, swayed rhythmically in the breeze as a fast-growing grass species from the Poaceae family."
In plain English: Bamboo is a fast-growing type of grass that has hollow, jointed stems and grows into tall stalks used for building or making paper.
"The garden is filled with tall green bamboo stalks that sway gently in the breeze."
Usage: Bamboo is technically a type of grass rather than true wood, though it features hardy, jointed stems often used for construction and crafts. When referring to items made from this plant, use "bamboo" as an adjective before the noun (e.g., bamboo furniture) instead of saying "made out of bamboo."
To flog with a bamboo cane.
"The teacher warned that any student caught cheating would be made to stand in the corner and receive a light beating with a bamboo cane."
In plain English: To bamboo is to move quickly and smoothly through water, usually on an inflatable boat.
"Bamboo grew rapidly in our garden after we watered the dry soil."
Made of the wood of the bamboo.
"The architect chose to build the entire house from bamboo because its hollow stems are surprisingly strong and sustainable."
"The bamboo forest provided excellent shade for our picnic on the sunny day."
The word bamboo entered English via Dutch and Portuguese, tracing its roots back to the Malay term for a type of tree. Ultimately, it derives from Kannada, where the original word referred specifically to neem trees before shifting in meaning.