NOUN (2)

1. the hard woody stems of bamboo plants; used in construction and crafts and fishing poles;

2. woody tropical grass having hollow woody stems; mature canes used for construction and furniture;

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bamboo \Bam*boo"\ (b[a^]m*b[=oo]"), n. [Malay bambu, mambu.]
   (Bot.)
   A plant of the family of grasses, and genus Bambusa,
   growing in tropical countries.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: 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.
         [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bamboo \Bam*boo"\, v. t.
   To flog with the bamboo.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

bamboo
    n 1: the hard woody stems of bamboo plants; used in construction
         and crafts and fishing poles
    2: woody tropical grass having hollow woody stems; mature canes
       used for construction and furniture