bamboo
A tall plant with hard, hollow stems that grows fast, mainly in warm countries like those in Asia.
A tall woody grass with hollow jointed stems and many varieties, common in warm regions, especially Asia.
The hard parts of the bamboo plant used to make things like furniture, floors, or baskets.
The hard, hollow stems of bamboo plants when used as a material for making objects, buildings, or surfaces.
In the game of mahjong, one group of tiles that has small pictures of bamboo sticks on them.
In mahjong, the suit of tiles that shows stylized images of bamboo sticks, usually called the bamboo suit.
- Base: bamboo
- Plural: bamboo, bamboos
bamboo basket
1woven container of bamboo
A container made by weaving thin pieces of bamboo together, used to carry or hold things.
- The vegetables were arranged neatly in a bamboo basket.
- She carried the fruit home in a round bamboo basket.
- They sell handmade bamboo baskets at the market.
bamboo ceiling
1workplace barrier for Asians
An invisible barrier at work that makes it hard for people of Asian background to reach top jobs, even when they have the skills.
- She spoke about her experience with the bamboo ceiling in large tech companies.
- Many organizations are now discussing how to break the bamboo ceiling.
- The report argues that a bamboo ceiling still exists for Asian American leaders.
bamboo curtain
1Cold War barrier in East Asia
A term used in the past for the political and trade separation between communist countries in East Asia and the rest of the world.
- During the Cold War, Western journalists rarely crossed the so-called bamboo curtain.
- Trade slowly increased as countries on both sides of the bamboo curtain began to open up.
- The book explores life behind the bamboo curtain in the 1960s.
bamboo flooring
1floor surface made from bamboo
Floor boards made from bamboo that cover the floor of a room or house.
- They installed bamboo flooring throughout the living room.
- Bamboo flooring is marketed as a sustainable alternative to hardwood.
- The light-colored bamboo flooring makes the room feel bigger.
bamboo flute
1flute made from bamboo
A musical instrument you blow into, made from a hollow piece of bamboo with holes.
- The musician played a slow song on a bamboo flute.
- Children learned a simple tune on the bamboo flute in music class.
- A street performer filled the station with the sound of a bamboo flute.
bamboo forest
1large area of bamboo plants
A big area where many bamboo plants grow close together, like a forest.
- We hiked through a quiet bamboo forest in the mountains.
- The panda reserve is surrounded by thick bamboo forests.
- Mist hung low over the bamboo forest after the rain.
bamboo furniture
1furniture made from bamboo
Chairs, tables, or other things you sit on or put things on that are made from bamboo.
- The café is decorated with simple bamboo furniture.
- They chose bamboo furniture for their patio because it is light and natural-looking.
- Most of the bamboo furniture was handmade by local craftsmen.
bamboo grove
1small group of bamboo plants
A small group of bamboo plants growing together in one place.
- A narrow path led into a bamboo grove behind the temple.
- They set up their tent beside a bamboo grove near the river.
- The house is hidden in a quiet bamboo grove.
bamboo mat
1flat woven mat of bamboo
A flat piece made from thin strips of bamboo, used to cover the floor or a surface.
- Guests removed their shoes and stepped onto the cool bamboo mat.
- She rolled up the bamboo mat and put it in the corner.
- They served sushi on a small bamboo mat.
bamboo pole
1long bamboo stem for support
A long, straight piece of bamboo used to hold or carry things, or to support something.
- Laundry hung high on bamboo poles outside the windows.
- Workers carried the heavy load on a bamboo pole between them.
- They used bamboo poles to build a simple fence.
bamboo scaffolding
1temporary work structure of bamboo
A temporary frame made of bamboo poles put around a building so workers can stand on it while they work.
- Workers climbed the bamboo scaffolding to paint the outside wall.
- In some cities, bamboo scaffolding is still common on construction sites.
- The bamboo scaffolding looked light but was very strong.
bamboo shoot
1edible young bamboo sprout
The soft new part that grows from the ground near a bamboo plant, which people cook and eat.
- The soup was full of fresh bamboo shoots and mushrooms.
- They stir-fried pork with bamboo shoots and green onions.
- Canned bamboo shoots are easy to find in Asian supermarkets.
bamboo stick
1single piece of bamboo used as stick
One long, thin piece of bamboo used like a stick or rod.
- He used a bamboo stick to support the tomato plants.
- The children played a rhythm on the drums with bamboo sticks.
- She walked up the hill with the help of a bamboo stick.
bamboo straw
1reusable drinking straw of bamboo
A drinking straw made from bamboo that you can use again, instead of a plastic straw.
- The café serves cold drinks with reusable bamboo straws.
- She carries a bamboo straw in her bag to avoid using plastic ones.
- Bamboo straws should be cleaned well after each use.
bamboo toothbrush
1toothbrush with bamboo handle
A toothbrush with a handle made from bamboo, often used as an eco-friendly choice instead of plastic.
- She switched to a bamboo toothbrush to reduce plastic waste.
- Many eco-shops now sell bamboo toothbrushes.
- He forgot his bamboo toothbrush and bought a plastic one at the hotel.
lucky bamboo
1decorative plant called lucky bamboo
A plant often grown indoors in water or a small pot, which looks like bamboo and is believed to bring good luck.
- She keeps a pot of lucky bamboo on her desk at work.
- The shop sells small arrangements of lucky bamboo as gifts.
- They gave him a lucky bamboo plant for his new office.