A fungus is a plant that has no flowers, leaves, or green colouring, such as a mushroom or a toadstool. Other types of fungus such as mould are extremely small and look like a fine powder.
Synonyms: mould, mushroom, decay, mildew More Synonyms of fungus
fungus in British English
(ˈfʌŋɡəs)
nounWord forms: pluralfungi (ˈfʌŋɡaɪ, ˈfʌndʒaɪ, ˈfʌndʒɪ) or funguses
1.
any member of a kingdom of organisms (Fungi) that lack chlorophyll, leaves, true stems, and roots, reproduce by spores, and live as saprotrophs or parasites. The group includes moulds, mildews, rusts, yeasts, and mushrooms
2.
something resembling a fungus, esp in suddenly growing and spreading rapidly
3. pathology
any soft tumorous growth
Derived forms
fungic (ˈfʌndʒɪk)
adjective
fungus-like (ˈfungus-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Latin: mushroom, fungus; probably related to Greek spongossponge
fungus in American English
(ˈfʌŋgəs)
nounWord forms: pluralˈfunˌgi (ˈfʌnˌdʒaɪ; ˈfʌŋˌgaɪ) or ˈfunguses
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 meansof 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
adjective
3.
of, like, or caused by a fungus; fungous
Word origin
L, a mushroom, fungus < Gr dial. (Attic) sphongos, var. of Gr spongos, sponge
And we did all this without trying to get to grips with the plants and fungus.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Are any hedges resistant to honey fungus?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This is a fungus called white rust which can kill the plants.
The Sun (2011)
Blossom wilt is caused by the same fungus that causes brown rot on apple fruits.
The Sun (2012)
You may also be able to spot fungus growing.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This is a fungus called coral spot.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The most likely cause is a fungus called petal blight.
The Sun (2016)
Test for honey fungus by cutting back an inch of bark at the base to look for the white sheath underneath.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Is this insect or fungus damage?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
These are caused by a fungus.
The Sun (2012)
We have an understanding of plants, but fungi are not plants.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Its orchards are constantly bothered by insects and fungus, so it yield is lower.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
If you keep people in the dark, you grow poisonous fungus.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Honey fungus was particularly abundant, while field mushrooms also flourished.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We took samples but we couldn't find the fungus that usually causes this disease.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This is blossom wilt, a fungus that also causes brown rot of fruit.
The Sun (2013)
If healthy, it contains billions of bacteria and fungi that enable plants to flourish and discourages weeds.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In our smallish town garden we have honey fungus, which in the past has killed hedges and trees.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
For edible fungi see mushrooms.
Mayes, Adrienne The Dictionary of Nutritional Health (1986)
Hunters claim that there are upwards of 90 edible mushrooms and other fungi found in Britain.
Smith, Drew Food Watch (1994)
This fungus, which grows in troops, is golden or yellow.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Until recently, the standard advice given was to avoid eating anything containing yeast, moulds or fungi.
MacIntyre, Anne M. E. Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome - How To Live With It (1989)
A This is grey mould fungus, which invades soft or damaged tissue and spreads.
The Sun (2010)
With researchers saying that the fungus attacks plants through the cuts made by pruning, some vineyards have stopped pruning, but this also diminishes production.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
fungus
British English: fungus NOUN
A fungus is a plant that has no flowers, leaves, or green colouring, such as a mushroom or a toadstool.
American English: fungus
Brazilian Portuguese: fungo
Chinese: 菌类
European Spanish: hongo
French: champignon
German: Pilz
Italian: fungo
Japanese: 菌類
Korean: 균류
European Portuguese: fungo
Latin American Spanish: hongo
All related terms of 'fungus'
club fungus
→ basidiomycete
fungus gnat
any of several mosquitolike insects of the family Mycetophilidae, the larvae of which feed on fungi or decaying vegetation
gill fungus
any fungus of the basidiomycetous family Agaricaceae, in which the spores are produced on gills underneath a cap
pore fungus
a basidiomycete having spores that are produced inside microscopic tubules in the underside of its mushroom
rust fungus
a reddish-brown oxide coating formed on iron or steel by the action of oxygen and moisture
sac fungus
→ ascomycete
honey fungus
an edible basidiomycetous fungus , Armillaria mellea, having a yellow-spotted cap and wrinkled stems, parasitic on the roots of woody plants, which it may kill by root rot . It spreads by thin black underground strands
jelly fungus
a member of any of three orders ( Auriculariales, Tremellales, and Dacrymycetales ) of basidiomycetous fungi that grow on trees and have a jelly-like consistency when wet . They include the conspicuous yellow brain fungus ( Tremella mesenterica ), the black witch's butter ( Exidia plana ), and the pinky-red jew's- ear ( Auricularia auricula-judae )
shelf fungus
→ bracket fungus
bootlace fungus
an edible basidiomycetous fungus , Armillaria mellea, having a yellow-spotted cap and wrinkled stems, parasitic on the roots of woody plants, which it may kill by root rot . It spreads by thin black underground strands
bracket fungus
any saprotroph or parasitic fungus of the basidiomycetous family Polyporaceae , growing as a shelflike mass ( bracket ) from tree trunks and producing spores in vertical tubes in the bracket
beefsteak fungus
an edible reddish bracket fungus, Fistulina hepatica , that grows esp on oak trees and oozes a bloodlike juice
imperfect fungus
any of a subdivision (Deuteromycotina) of fungi for which no sexual stage of reproduction is known
bird's-nest fungus
any fungus of the family Nidulariaceae , having a nestlike spore-producing body containing egglike spore-filled structures
orange-peel fungus
any of various cup-shaped ascomycetous fungi of the order Pezizales, often strikingly coloured , such as the orange-peel elf-cup ( Aleuria aurantia ), which is bright orange inside and dirty white outside, and the scarlet elf-cup ( Sarcoscypha coccinea )
yellow brain fungus
a member of any of three orders ( Auriculariales, Tremellales, and Dacrymycetales ) of basidiomycetous fungi that grow on trees and have a jelly-like consistency when wet . They include the conspicuous yellow brain fungus ( Tremella mesenterica ), the black witch's butter ( Exidia plana ), and the pinky-red jew's- ear ( Auricularia auricula-judae )
rust
Rust is a brown substance that forms on iron or steel, for example when it comes into contact with water.
slime mold
→ myxomycete
horsehair toadstool
a small basidiomycetous fungus, Marasmius androsaceus, having a rusty coloured cap and very slender black stems. It is related to the fairy ring mushroom , but is commonly found among conifers and heather
rust-coloured
a reddish-brown oxide coating formed on iron or steel by the action of oxygen and moisture
Chinese translation of 'fungus'
fungus
(ˈfʌŋɡəs)
Word forms:plfungi (ˈfʌŋɡaɪ)
n
(c) (= plant) 真菌 (zhēnjūn) (种(種), zhǒng)
(u) (= mould) 霉(黴) (méi)
(noun)
Definition
a plant without leaves, flowers, or roots, that reproduces by spores, including moulds, yeasts, and mushrooms
The spores of the fungus are able to germinate in oil.