Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Tulip \Tu"lip\, n. [F. tulipe, OF. also tulipan, It. tulipano,
   tulipa, from Turk. tulbend, dulbend, literally, a turban,
   Per. dulband; -- so called from the resemblance of the form
   of this flower to a turban. See {Turban}.] (Bot.)
   Any plant of the liliaceous genus {Tulipa}. Many varieties
   are cultivated for their beautiful, often variegated flowers.

   {Tulip tree}.
   (a) A large American tree bearing tuliplike flowers. See
       {Liriodendron}.
   (b) A West Indian malvaceous tree ({Paritium, or Hibiscus,
       tiliaceum}).

Source : WordNet®

tulip tree
     n : tall North American deciduous timber tree having large
         tulip-shaped greenish yellow flowers and conelike fruit;
         yields soft white woods used especially for cabinet work
         [syn: {tulip poplar}, {yellow poplar}, {canary whitewood},
          {Liriodendron tulipifera}]