penicillium

pen·i·cil·li·um  (pn-sl-m)

n. pl. pen·i·cil·li·ums or pen·i·cil·li·a (-sl-)

Any of various characteristically bluish-green fungi of the genus Penicillium that grow as molds on decaying fruits and ripening cheese and are used in the production of penicillin and in making cheese.

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[New Latin Pnicillium, genus name, from Latin pnicillus, brush; see pencil.]

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penicillium [ˌpɛnɪˈsɪlɪəm]

n pl -cilliums, -cillia [-ˈsɪlɪə]

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any ascomycetous saprotrophic fungus of the genus Penicillium, which commonly grow as a green or blue mould on stale food: some species are used in cheese-making and others as a source of penicillin

[New Latin, from Latin pēnicillus tuft of hairs; named from the tufted appearance of the sporangia of this fungus]

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penicillium  (pn-sl-m)

Plural penicilliums or penicillia

Any of various bluish-green fungi of the genus Penicillium, that grow as molds on decaying fruits, ripening cheeses, and bread, and are used to produce penicillin and certain other antibiotics.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Penicillium - genus of fungi commonly growing as green or blue molds on decaying food; used in making cheese and as a source of penicillin genus Penicillium fungus genus - includes lichen genera family Moniliaceae, Moniliaceae - family of imperfect fungi having white or brightly colored hyphae and spores that are produced directly on the mycelium and not aggregated in fruiting bodies