English · Nature & Environment
tulip
/ˈtjuː.lɪp/
[/ˈtjuː.lɪp/]
cup-shaped spring flower
Intermediatenoun
Definition
A brightly coloured cup-shaped flower that grows from a bulb in spring.
Example
Thousands of red and yellow tulips bloomed across the Dutch fields in early spring.
Thousands of red and yellow tulips bloomed across the Dutch fields in early spring.
Etymology
From Turkish 'tulbend', a turban, which the flower was thought to resemble.
How & Where It’s Used
Common in gardens and associated with the Netherlands.
Cultural Note
Tulips are strongly associated with the Netherlands, where 'tulip mania' caused an economic bubble in the 1630s.