fungus Hear it!

Jump To: synonymsSynonyms · examplesUsage Examples · quotesQuotes · linkLink/Cite
Also found in: medicalAH Medical Dictionary
fungus definition

fun·gus (fuŋ′gəs)

noun pl. fungi fun′gi′ (fun′jī′, fuŋ′gī′) or funguses fun′·guses

  1. any of a large division (Eumycota) of thallophytes, including molds, mildews, mushrooms, rusts, and smuts, which are parasites on living organisms or feed upon dead organic material, lack chlorophyll, true roots, stems, and leaves, and reproduce by means of spores: in some systems of biological classification, these organisms are placed in a separate kingdom (Fungi) and are not considered to be plants
  2. something that grows suddenly and rapidly like a fungus

Etymology: L, a mushroom, fungus < Gr dial. (Attic) sphongos, var. of Gr spongos, sponge

adjective

of, like, or caused by a fungus; fungous

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical fungus definition - medical

fungus Synonyms

fungus

n.

mushroom, toadstool, parasite, puffball, saprophyte, lichen, mold, rust, mildew, rot, truffle.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

fungus Usage Examples

Converse of subject

  • cause: Athlete's Foot is caused by a fungus that attacks the sole of the foot or the skin between the toes.

Converse of object

  • destroy: Nizoral works by destroying the fungus that causes the infection.

Adjective modifier

  • mycorrhizal: In orchid seeds, the nutrients required for germination are provided by a mycorrhizal fungus with which it forms an association.

Modifies a noun

  • aspergillus: The soil and plants inside your house and outside are a source of the fungus aspergillus which grows in decaying vegetation.

Noun used with modifier

  • take-all: Fig 9.11 A wheat root at different magnifications, infected by the take-all fungus, Gaeumannomyces graminis.
fungus usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

fungus quotes

A truly good book is something as wildly natural and primitive, mysterious and marvelous, ambrosial and fertile, as a fungus or a lichen.

-Thoreau, Henry David

fungus quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"fungus." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/fungus>

APA Style

fungus. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/fungus

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment