Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of flowering plant: A tulip is a perennial bulbous herb characterized by linear or broadly lanceolate leaves and typically producing a single, showy, cup-shaped flower in spring.
   • The flower of this plant: The word also refers specifically to the brightly colored, often vividly patterned bloom itself, which is widely cultivated for ornamental purposes.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The garden was a riot of color with hundreds of red and yellow tulips.
  • She received a beautiful bouquet of pink tulips for her birthday.
  • Tulips are often associated with the Netherlands.

Advanced Usage

• "Tulip mania": A historical term referring to a period in the Dutch Golden Age during the 1630s when contract prices for some bulbs of the recently introduced tulip reached extraordinarily high levels before dramatically collapsing.

  • The economic bubble of tulip mania is a classic case study in speculation.

• "Tulip tree": A common name for the North American tree Liriodendron tulipifera, whose flowers resemble tulips. (Note: This is a separate plant, not a true tulip).

  • The tulip tree in our yard blooms with green and orange flowers in late spring.

Variants and Related Words

• Tulipaceous (adj): Belonging to or characteristic of the tulip family (Liliaceae).
• Tulipomania (n): An alternative spelling for "tulip mania."

Synonyms

• Bloom: A general term for a flower, especially one cultivated for its beauty.
• Bulb: While not a direct synonym, this refers to the underground storage organ from which a tulip grows.

Related Phrases

• "Tulip festival": A celebratory event centered around the blooming of tulips, common in many towns and cities.

  • We're planning to visit the annual tulip festival next month.

• "Tulip bulb": Refers specifically to the bulb of the tulip plant, from which it grows.

  • You should plant tulip bulbs in the autumn for spring flowers.

Related Idioms

• "As fresh as a tulip": An idiom, though less common, used to describe someone who looks very healthy, vibrant, and well-rested.
  • After her vacation, she looked as fresh as a tulip.

Noun

1. any of numerous perennial bulbous herbs having linear or broadly lanceolate leaves and usually a single showy flower