Dictionary

tubular en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• tyo͞obyələr
• /ˈt͡ʃuː-/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈtjʉːbjələ(ɹ)/ (Australia)
• /ˈtjʉːbjʊlə(ɹ)/ (Australia)
• /ˈt(j)ubjələɹ/ (General-American)
• /ˈtjuːbjʊlə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• tyo͞obyo͝olər
• /-bjə-/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /-bju-/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Latin tubulus + -ar. By surface analysis, tubule + -ar. The sense meaning "cool" or "awesome" is believed to be a figurative extension originating in surfing lingo, from the way that an excellent wave encloses a surfer within tubular walls of water.

Meanings

1. Shaped like a tube.
   • tubular bell
   • As we descended the long wooden stairway that leads from the central tower to the Island of Inchgarvie, the straight and simple outlines of the internal viaduct stood out in sharp contrast to the long sweep of the massive tubular arms of the cantilevers, and the complicated network of the lattice cross girders. 1950 March, H. A. Vallance, “On Foot Across the Forth Bridge”, in Railway Magazine, page 150:
2. Relating to, or composed of, tubes or tubules.
3. (US, dated, slang) Cool, awesome.
   • It was such a tubular party, Journal! But a few minutes later, I walked up to the Hermosa Beach Pier and left the girls with my things, thinking the totally bitchin' party would continue. But when I got back, they were all gone. 2007, Brian Laesch, The Verge of Psychosis: An Aspiring Actor's Journal:

Forms

Deriveds

transtubular · microtubular · unitubular · intratubular · nontubular · extratubular · tubularian · pretubular · paratubular · subtubular · acinotubular · neurotubular · sarcotubular · pseudotubular · vesiculotubular · peritubular · tubular sponge hydroid · aquatubular · quasitubular · glomerulotubular · myotubular · multitubular · tubular skylight · hemitubular · papillotubular · YouTubular · tubularize · sinotubular · tubular bells · tubularness · renotubular · semitubular · craniotubular · reticulotubular · intertubular · nanotubular

Relateds

tubularly · tubular girder · tubular assault · cylindrical · tubular breathing · tubular boiler · tubular bridge · tubularity

Synonyms

tuboid · cannular · tuboidal · tubiform

Translations (26)

ga feadánach (shaped like a tube) · es tubular (consisting of tubes) · sv rörformig (shaped like a tube) · bg тръбообразен (shaped like a tube) · fi putki- (shaped like a tube) · cy pibellaidd (shaped like a tube) · el αυλωτός (shaped like a tube) · bg тръбен (of or pertaining to a tube) · cy tiwbaidd (consisting of tubes) · gl tubular (shaped like a tube) · de rohrförmig (shaped like a tube) · ru тру́бчатый (shaped like a tube) · fi putkimainen (shaped like a tube) · es tubular (of or pertaining to a tube) · hu csöves (shaped like a tube) · cy pibellaidd (consisting of tubes) · ru тру́бчатый (consisting of tubes) · es tubular (shaped like a tube) · de schlauchförmig (shaped like a tube) · cy tiwbaidd (shaped like a tube) · gl tubular (of or pertaining to a tube) · gl tubular (consisting of tubes) · bg цилиндричен (shaped like a tube) · ru трубообра́зный (shaped like a tube) · ca tubular (shaped like a tube) · ru тру́бный (of or pertaining to a tube)