Slangora

bamboo

Any of the fast-growing grasses of the subfamily, characterised by its woody, hollow, round, straight, jointed stem.

bæmˈbuDocumented since 1880sCurrent172 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
Tech, Dev & AI
3 definitions
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Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026

Etymology timeline

Born ~1886 · 1 year of recorded use
1886Born2026: 5 citationsToday, 2026

Seen in the wild

Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 26, 2026UK

Any of the fast-growing grasses of the subfamily, characterised by its woody, hollow, round, straight, jointed stem.

It was evident that Europeans seldom came here, for numbers of women skeltered away as I walked through the village and one girl about ten or twelve years old, who had just brought a bamboo full of water from the river, threw it down wit…
Origin: , from , from , from , variant form of ಬೇವು. Cognate with , , from. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Heard in the wild
  • [Jump to content](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_shoot#bodyContent) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Edible shoots of many bamboo species "Takenoko" redirects here.

  • These young, tender culms of bamboo plants are also widely harvested for culinary use in Asia.

  • Please help [improve this article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Bamboo_textile "Special:EditPage/Bamboo textile") by [adding citations to reliable sources](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners "Help:Referencing for beginners").

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UK
#2·Apr 26, 2026UK

(uncountable) Wood of the bamboo plant as a material for building, furniture, etc.

It was evident that Europeans seldom came here, for numbers of women skeltered away as I walked through the village and one girl about ten or twelve years old, who had just brought a bamboo full of water from the river, threw it down wit…
For parents

Bamboo means: Wood of the bamboo plant as a material for building, furniture, etc.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

bamboo means: Wood of the bamboo plant as a material for building, furniture, etc.. Register: neutral, standard English. Common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; always check the context before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.

Heard in the wild
  • By contrast, the stalks of the tiny bamboo Raddiella vanessiae of the savannas of French Guiana measure only 10–20 millimeters (0.

  • The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, but it most likely comes from the Dutch or Portuguese language, which originally borrowed it from Malay.

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UK
#3·Apr 26, 2026UK

(countable) A stick, rod, pole, or cane of bamboo, especially one used as a vessel for liquids, or as a tool for corporal punishment.

It was evident that Europeans seldom came here, for numbers of women skeltered away as I walked through the village and one girl about ten or twelve years old, who had just brought a bamboo full of water from the river, threw it down wit…
Heard in the wild
  • I drew an invisible girl playing the bamboo flute! #krita

    Bluesky· May 2026
  • 阿里山系 8 #art #photo #photography #Taiwan #bamboo #naturephotography #minimalism #Monochrome #ClassicMono ©️skinskin

    Bluesky· May 2026
  • “People were so shocked I know how to weave bamboo leaves into a raft.”—Izzie

    Bluesky· May 2026
  • Best Of: Handwoven Bamboo Shelves 🌿 🌿 Echoes from the #LikeForest Team @thelikeforest

    Bluesky· May 2026
  • life continues on frost traces veins on every leaf wind through bamboo 🍃 Bonsai · https://t3kno-logic.xyz #Haiku #Bonsai #Zen

    Bluesky· May 2026
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