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mushroom definition

mush·room (mus̸h′ro̵̅o̅m′, -ro̵om′)

noun

    1. any of various rapidly growing, fleshy fungi, typically having a stalk capped with an umbrellalike top; esp., a gill or pore fungus
    2. the fruiting body of such a fungus
    3. an edible fruiting body of such a fungus
  2. anything like a mushroom in shape or rapid growth

Etymology: ME muscheron < OFr moisseron < LL mussirio (gen. mussirionis)

adjective

  1. of or made with mushrooms
  2. like a mushroom in shape or rapid growth a mushroom cloud

intransitive verb

  1. to hunt for and gather wild mushrooms
  2. to grow or spread rapidly
  3. to flatten out at the end so as to resemble a mushroom

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

mushroom Synonyms

mushroom

n.

  1. toadstool, fungus, champignon (French), truffle.

    Edible mushrooms include: morel, chanterelle, cremini, enoki, shiitake, portobello, porcini, puffball, earth star, honey, agaric, button, cèpe, meadow, Caesar's, fairy ring, shaggy mane, inky cap, oyster, parasol, golden clavaria, bear's head, hedgehog, angel trumpet, soft-skinned crepidotus, green russula, tan-colored russula, Mary russula, sheathed amanitopsis, large-sheathed amanitopsis, smooth lepiota, American lepiota.

  2. Poisonous mushrooms or toadstools include: jack-my-lantern, fetid russula, fly agaric, death angel, death cup, amanita.


mushroom

v.

augment, spread, sprout; see grow 1, increase 1.


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.

mushroom Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • slice: Add cream and brandy to pan when sliced mushrooms are cooked.

Adjective modifier

  • sauteed: Andrew tells me his favorite breakfast consists of sautéed field mushrooms among which an egg has been poached.

Modifies a noun

  • risotto: Alternatively try with roast beef, rack of lamb or wild mushroom risotto.

Noun used with modifier

  • shiitake: In another area he has started to grow shiitake mushrooms under a graceful canopy, a living tunnel of woven willow trees.
mushroom 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.

mushroom quotes

Our motto: Life is too short to stuff a mushroom.

-Conran, Shirley Ida ne¤  e Pearce

  I am†a mushroom On whom the dew of heaven drops now and then.

-Ford,John

I see America as a black curse upon the world. I see a long night settling in and that mushroom which has poisoned the world withering at the roots.

-Miller, Henry Valentine

mushroom 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.

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

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/mushroom>

APA Style

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

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/mushroom

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