bulbless
|bulb-less|
/ˈbʌbləs/
without a bulb
Etymology
'bulbless' originates from English, formed from the noun 'bulb' and the suffix '-less', where 'bulb' originates from Latin 'bulbus' (from Greek 'bolbos') meaning 'bulb' and the suffix '-less' ultimately derives from Old English 'lēas' meaning 'without'.
'bulbless' was formed in Modern English by compounding 'bulb' with the productive adjectival suffix '-less'; 'bulb' entered English from Latin 'bulbus' (via Old French or directly) with an earlier Greek source 'bolbos'.
Initially it meant 'without a bulb' and has retained that literal descriptive meaning, mainly used in specialized or technical contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
lacking bulbs (storage organs) — used of plants that do not form bulbs such as tulips or onions.
Many species in that genus are bulbless, spreading instead by rhizomes or stolons.
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Adjective 2
without a bulb-shaped structure — used in anatomical or morphological descriptions to indicate the absence of a bulbous part.
The specimen appeared bulbless in the region where a sensory bulb would normally form.
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Adjective 3
lacking light bulbs or having had bulbs removed — used for lamps or light fixtures without bulbs.
After the festival, many street lamps stood bulbless until maintenance replaced the burned-out bulbs.
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Last updated: 2025/12/11 02:39