Tulip
/ˈtulɪp/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA type of flowering plant, genus Tulipa.
nounThe flower of this plant.
Sentence Examples
He looked at his beautiful tulip.
The Tulip is a graceful flower but has no scent.
Is there any flower more Dutch than the tulip?
CEFR Practice Quiz
In spring, the garden was full of colorful ____ blooming in rows.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He planted several ____ bulbs in the garden last autumn and they have just started to bloom in many bright colors today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French tulipe, from earlier tulipan, from Ottoman Turkish دلبند (tülbent, dülbent, “cheesecloth”), from Classical Persian دلبند (dulband, “turban”). Doublet of turban.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""The sturdy burghers of Holland took the tulip mania so badly that single bulbs that could not flower till another year would sell for more than $2000 apiece.""
— 1876 April, “The Tulip Mania”, in Harper's New Monthly Magazine, volume LII, number CCCXL:
"He looked round the poor room, at the distempered walls, and the bad engravings in meretricious frames, the crinkly paper and wax flowers on the chiffonier; and he thought of a room like Father Bryan's, with panelling, with cut glass, with tulips in silver pots, such a room as he had hoped to have for his own."
— 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter X, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
"Tiny Tim, who trilled his way to fame with his high‐pitched rendition of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” has named his daughter, born last Monday, Tulip Victoria Khaury."
— 1971 May 15, Albin Krebs, “Notes on People”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 22 Jul 2020:
"Neil and Clare are extremely happy to announce the safe arrival of their daughter Evangeline Tulip born Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at 10.04am, weighing 8lb. 2oz."
— 2009 June 12, “[Birth Announcements] DODDS: Evangeline Tulip”, in Isle of Wight County Press, Newport, Isle of Wight, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 38, column 1:
"James is survived by […] his niece and goddaughter, Louise J. McDowell and her daughter, Tulip; […]"
— 2022 September 28, Doherty Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, “[Obituaries] James J. Paoletti”, in The News Journal, volume 144, number 100, Wilmington, Del., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 15A, column 2:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
In spring, the garden was full of colorful ____ blooming in rows.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He planted several ____ bulbs in the garden last autumn and they have just started to bloom in many bright colors today.