tuber

1 of 2

noun (1)

tu·​ber ˈtü-bər How to pronounce tuber (audio)
ˈtyü-
plural tubers
1
a
: a short fleshy usually underground stem bearing minute scale leaves each of which bears a bud in its axil and is potentially able to produce a new plant
Wireworms work beneath the soil, tunneling in the potato tubers and sometimes doing serious damage.Glenn Drowns
Manioc flour, made from cassava (a starchy tuber), is available at many Latin American markets.Paul Theroux
compare bulb, corm
b
: a fleshy root or rhizome resembling a tuber
2

tuber

2 of 2

noun (2)

tub·​er ˈtü-bər How to pronounce tuber (audio)
ˈtyü-
plural tubers
: a person who engages in the sport or activity of riding an inner tube (as down a river or snowy slope) : one who participates in tubing
With so many tubers using the river, streambank erosion became a problem at popular exit points.Jerry Gerlach et al.
Skiers, snowboarders and snow tubers have seen everything Mother Nature can throw at them this winter.Ron Leonardi

Examples of tuber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Plant tubers 2 inches deep, such that the top of the tuber lies 2 inches beneath the soil surface. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2024 Vegetables and Plant-Based Protein Sources Vegetables are foods that come from any edible part of a plant, such as leaves, seeds, roots, flowers, tubers, stems, and bulbs. Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 11 Oct. 2024 Be careful not to cut through the tubers when digging or bruise the spuds with rough handling. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2024 Lift Tubers After The First Frost Part of the beauty of dahlias is that one tuber can turn to three or four the next year, but English is careful to give his tubers TLC as soon as the season wraps. Heather Bien, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tuber 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Latin, swelling, truffle; perhaps akin to Latin tumēre to swell — more at thumb entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tuber was in 1668

Dictionary Entries Near tuber

Cite this Entry

“Tuber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tuber. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

tuber

noun
tu·​ber ˈt(y)ü-bər How to pronounce tuber (audio)
1
: a short fleshy usually underground stem (as of a potato plant) having tiny scalelike leaves each with a bud at its base that can produce a new plant compare bulb sense 1a, corm
2
: a fleshy root or rhizome that resembles a tuber

Medical Definition

tuber

noun
tu·​ber ˈt(y)ü-bər How to pronounce tuber (audio)
: an anatomical prominence : tuberosity

More from Merriam-Webster on tuber

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