lichen Definition
li·chen (lī′kən)
noun
- 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.
- 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.
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
Browse dictionary entries near lichen
- ‹ lichee
- ‹ lich gate
- ‹ lich
- ‹ licentious
- ‹ licentiate
- ‹ licensure
- ‹ licensor
- ‹ licenser
- ‹ licensee
- ‹ licensed practical nurse
- lichenology ›
- licht ›
- Lichtenstein ›
- licit ›
- lick ›
- lickerish ›
- lickety-split ›
- licking ›
- lickspittle ›
- licorice ›

