lichen Hear it!

lichen Definition

li·chen (kən)

noun

  1. any of various small plants composed of a particular fungus and a particular alga growing in an intimate symbiotic association and forming a dual plant, commonly adhering in colored patches or spongelike branches to rock, wood, soil, etc.
  2. any of various skin diseases characterized by papules and enlarged skin markings

Etymology: L < Gr leichēn, prob. < leichein, to lick

transitive verb

to cover with lichens

lichen Related Forms

li·chen·ous adjective or li·chen·ose′-ōs′

lichen Synonyms

lichen

n.

fungus growth, fungus-alga, thallophyte, epiphyte, symbiont; see also plant.

Types of lichen include: foliaceous, crustaceous, fruticose, gelatinous, Iceland moss, reindeer moss, reindeer lichen, Rocella tinctoria, Rocella fuciformis (both Latin).

lichen Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • encrust: You will arrive at an imposing lichen encrusted gateway.
  • remove: The pressure of the jet is carefully adjusted as the job proceeds, to remove lichen and grime without undue force.
  • cover: Brief Encounter VS 4c At the back of the the bay is a lichen covered slab.
  • include: The heathland is rich in lichens, including the rare golden hair lichen.
  • use: Humans have a long history of using lichens for different purposes.
  • have: In East Devon, we have some very rare lichens dependent on trees, particularly on ash.

Adjective modifier

  • crustose: Current status This crustose lichen grows on the trunks of mature trees with basic bark.
  • epiphytic: The woods have an exceptional diversity of rare epiphytic lichens.
  • foliose: The orange foliose lichen in the close-up is Xanthoria parietina.
  • leafy: Note the junction between the brown-black lava stone and green and leafy lichen.
  • rare: In East Devon, we have some very rare lichens dependent on trees, particularly on ash.
  • gray: They wore wigs of gray lichen beneath their red caps.

Modifies a noun

  • planus: Back to top How can lichen planus be treated?
  • sclerosus: With lichen sclerosus, there are inflammatory cells below the skin.
  • flora: Lichen flora is also well developed with many of the classic heathland species present.
  • assemblage: The composition of lichen assemblages on derelict mine sites, is largely determined by the metal deposits present.
  • specie: Being long-lived mature trees develop a large community of lichen species of which at least 50 are known to be locally rare.
  • growth: East wall: Fabric ' B ' , the masonry with heavy lichen growth.

Noun used with modifier

  • jelly: Of the rivers draining from the plateau, only the Glenarm has records of Priority Species the otter and the river jelly lichen.
  • tar: These are not the only tar lichens present on the shore and they are difficult to distinguish from each other.

Browse dictionary entries near lichen

  1. lichee
  2. lich gate
  3. lich
  4. licentious
  5. licentiate
  6. licensure
  7. licensor
  8. licenser
  9. licensee
  10. licensed practical nurse
  1. lichenology
  2. licht
  3. Lichtenstein
  4. licit
  5. lick
  6. lickerish
  7. lickety-split
  8. licking
  9. lickspittle
  10. licorice