: any of a genus (Tulipa) of Eurasian bulbous herbs of the lily family that have linear or broadly lanceolate leaves and are widely grown for their showy flowers
also
: the flower or bulb of a tulip
Examples of tulip in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In time, the pink tablecloth was joined by an eel, a turtleneck sweater, tulips, a set of bicycle handlebars, the elevator, amphorae, portholes, a hairy goat, bricks, the light switch, and 39 other rather unlikely items from the past several thousand years.
—
Paul Croughton, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2024
The entire area is planted with massive tulip fields connecting several sweet, quiet towns.
—Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2024
On top of the usual attractions like the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, The Anne Frank House and Heineken Experience, visitors to Amsterdam in March will be able to see the eye-popping display of tulips in Keukenhof Gardens during Tulip Season, which typically occurs between 21st March and 12th May.
—Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Set the table with a garden bouquet of different flowers and plants like these pink parrot tulips for Easter lunch.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Mar. 2024
While water holders are inching closer to being the modern equivalent of the Dutch tulip, with speculators driving up prices, the main use of the cup remains holding water.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024
Orange City plays up its Dutch roots with decorative windmills, Dutch-style gables on storefronts, and an annual tulip festival in May.
—Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024
Other than the fun shade, the flattering V-neckline, tulip skirt, and slight pleats at the waist are also worth highlighting about this style.
—Carly Totten, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024
Visitors to one pavilion are greeted by two LED screens displaying tulip fields that portray the region of Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, as calm and peaceful.
—Valerie Hopkins, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Paul Croughton, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2024
The entire area is planted with massive tulip fields connecting several sweet, quiet towns.
—Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2024
On top of the usual attractions like the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, The Anne Frank House and Heineken Experience, visitors to Amsterdam in March will be able to see the eye-popping display of tulips in Keukenhof Gardens during Tulip Season, which typically occurs between 21st March and 12th May.
—Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Set the table with a garden bouquet of different flowers and plants like these pink parrot tulips for Easter lunch.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Mar. 2024
While water holders are inching closer to being the modern equivalent of the Dutch tulip, with speculators driving up prices, the main use of the cup remains holding water.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024
Orange City plays up its Dutch roots with decorative windmills, Dutch-style gables on storefronts, and an annual tulip festival in May.
—Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024
Other than the fun shade, the flattering V-neckline, tulip skirt, and slight pleats at the waist are also worth highlighting about this style.
—Carly Totten, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024
Visitors to one pavilion are greeted by two LED screens displaying tulip fields that portray the region of Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, as calm and peaceful.
—Valerie Hopkins, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tulip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tulip
Cite this Entry
“Tulip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tulip. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tulip
noun
tu·lip
ˈt(y)ü-ləp 
: any of a genus of Eurasian herbs that grow from bulbs, have large lance-shaped leaves, are related to the lilies, and are widely grown for their showy cup-shaped flowers
also
: the flower or bulb of a tulip
Etymology
from scientific Latin tulipa "the tulip," from Turkish tülbent "tulip," literally "turban"
Word Origin
We often think of the tulip as a Dutch flower. The Dutch certainly do grow many tulips, but they first got the plant from Turkey. The Turkish word for the tulip was tülbent, meaning literally "turban." Perhaps it was the flower's shape that reminded the Turks of a turban. Or perhaps it was the bright colors and velvety petals. In any case, scientists picking a universal word for the flower chose the scientific Latin tulipa, taken from the Turkish word. The word came into English from the scientific Latin and was spelled tulip.
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