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fungus

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The definition of a fungus is an organism that feeds on organic matter.

(noun)

Yeast is an example of a fungus.
Athletes foot is an example of a fungus.

See fungus in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. fungi or funguses

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
something that grows suddenly and rapidly like a fungus

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

adjective

of, like, or caused by a fungus; fungous

See fungus in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. fun·gi (fŭnˈjī, fŭngˈgī) or fun·gus·es

Any of numerous eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Fungi, which lack chlorophyll and vascular tissue and range in form from a single cell to a body mass of branched filamentous hyphae that often produce specialized fruiting bodies. The kingdom includes the yeasts, molds, smuts, and mushrooms.

Origin:

Origin: Latin

Origin: ; perhaps akin to Greek spongos, sphongos, sponge

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