bamboo Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun the hard woody stems of bamboo plants; used in construction and crafts and fishing poles
noun woody tropical grass having hollow woody stems; mature canes used for construction and furniture

Malay bambu, mambu.

(Bot.) A plant of the family of grasses, and genus Bambusa, growing in tropical countries. ✍ The most useful species is Bambusa arundinacea, which has a woody, hollow, round, straight, jointed stem, and grows to the height of forty feet and upward. The flowers grow in large panicles, from the joints of the stalk, placed three in a parcel, close to their receptacles. Old stalks grow to five or six inches in diameter, and are so hard and durable as to be used for building, and for all sorts of furniture, for water pipes, and for poles to support palanquins. The smaller stalks are used for walking sticks, flutes, etc.