fungus

fun·gus  (fnggs)

n. pl. fun·gi (fnj, fngg) or fun·gus·es

Any of numerous eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Fungi, which lack chlorophyll and vascular tissue and range in form from a single cell to a body mass of branched filamentous hyphae that often produce specialized fruiting bodies. The kingdom includes the yeasts, molds, smuts, and mushrooms.

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[Latin; perhaps akin to Greek spongos, sphongos, sponge.]

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fungus

Noun

pl fungi or funguses a plant without leaves, flowers, or roots, that reproduce by spores, including moulds, yeasts, and mushrooms [Latin]

fungal adj

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fungus  (fnggs)

Plural fungi (fnj, fngg)

Any of a wide variety of organisms that reproduce by spores, including the mushrooms, molds, yeasts, and mildews. The spores of most fungi grow a network of slender tubes called hyphae that spread into and feed off of dead organic matter or living organisms. Fungi absorb food by excreting enzymes that break down complex substances into molecules that can be absorbed into the hyphae. The hyphae also produce reproductive structures, such as mushrooms and other growths. Some fungi (called perfect fungi) can reproduce by both sexually produced spores and asexual spores; other fungi (called imperfect fungi or deuteromycetes) are thought to have lost their sexual stage and can only reproduce by asexual spores. Fungi can live in a wide variety of environments, and fungal spores can survive extreme temperatures. Fungi exist in over 100,000 species, nearly all of which live on land. They can be extremely destructive, feeding on almost any kind of material and causing food spoilage and many plant diseases. Although fungi were once grouped with plants, they are now considered a separate kingdom in taxonomy. See Table at taxonomy.

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fungal adjective

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

fungus - an organism of the kingdom Fungi lacking chlorophyll and feeding on organic matter; ranging from unicellular or multicellular organisms to spore-bearing syncytia organism, being - a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently immune reaction, immune response, immunologic response - a bodily defense reaction that recognizes an invading substance (an antigen: such as a virus or fungus or bacteria or transplanted organ) and produces antibodies specific against that antigen pileus, cap - a fruiting structure resembling an umbrella or a cone that forms the top of a stalked fleshy fungus such as a mushroom volva - cuplike structure around the base of the stalk of certain fungi hymenium - spore-bearing layer of cells in certain fungi containing asci or basidia Ceratostomella ulmi, Dutch elm fungus - fungus causing Dutch elm disease Claviceps purpurea, ergot - a fungus that infects various cereal plants forming compact black masses of branching filaments that replace many grains of the plant; source of medicinally important alkaloids and of lysergic acid black root rot fungus, Xylaria mali - fungus causing black root rot in apples dead-man's-fingers, dead-men's-fingers, Xylaria polymorpha - the fruiting bodies of the fungi of the genus Xylaria sclerotinia - any fungus of the genus Sclerotinia; some causing brown rot diseases in plants earthball, hard-skinned puffball, puffball, false truffle - any of various fungi of the genus Scleroderma having hard-skinned subterranean fruiting bodies resembling truffles stalked puffball - mushroom of the genus Tulostoma that resembles a puffball false truffle - any of various fungi of the family Rhizopogonaceae having subterranean fruiting bodies similar to the truffle slime mold, slime mould - a naked mass of protoplasm having characteristics of both plants and animals; sometimes classified as protoctists pond-scum parasite - an aquatic fungus of genus Synchytriaceae that is parasitic on pond scum potato wart fungus, Synchytrium endobioticum - fungus causing potato wart disease in potato tubers Saprolegnia ferax, white fungus - a fungus that attacks living fish and tadpoles and spawn causing white fungus disease: a coating of white hyphae on especially peripheral parts (as fins) white rust - fungus causing a disease characterized by a white powdery mass of conidia pythium - any fungus of the genus Pythium Phytophthora citrophthora - causes brown rot gummosis in citrus fruits Phytophthora infestans - fungus causing late blight in solanaceous plants especially tomatoes and potatoes clubroot fungus, Plasmodiophora brassicae - a fungus resembling slime mold that causes swellings or distortions of the roots of cabbages and related plants earth-ball, earthnut, truffle - any of various highly prized edible subterranean fungi of the genus Tuber; grow naturally in southwestern Europe coral fungus - any of numerous fungi of the family Clavariaceae often brightly colored that grow in often intricately branched clusters like coral tooth fungus - a fungus of the family Hydnaceae lichen - any thallophytic plant of the division Lichenes; occur as crusty patches or bushy growths on tree trunks or rocks or bare ground etc. Fungi, fungus kingdom, kingdom Fungi - the taxonomic kingdom including yeast, molds, smuts, mushrooms, and toadstools; distinct from the green plants true fungus - any of numerous fungi of the division Eumycota basidiomycete, basidiomycetous fungi - any of various fungi of the subdivision Basidiomycota Chinese black mushroom, golden oak mushroom, Lentinus edodes, Oriental black mushroom, shiitake, shiitake mushroom - edible east Asian mushroom having a golden or dark brown to blackish cap and an inedible stipe Lentinus lepideus, scaly lentinus - a fungus with a scaly cap and white flesh and a ring on the stalk (with scales below the ring); odor reminiscent of licorice Corticium salmonicolor, pink disease fungus - fungus causing pink disease in citrus and coffee and rubber trees etc bottom rot fungus, Corticium solani - fungus causing bottom rot in lettuce

Translations

fungus [pl fungi] [ˈfʌŋgəs, -gaɪ] n → hongo

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fungus [fungi , pl ] [ˈfʌŋgəs, -gaɪ] n → champignon m (= mould); moisissure f

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fungus [ˈfʌŋgəs] [fungi , pl ] n → Pilz m;

(mould) → Schimmel(pilz) m

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fungus [pl fungi] [ˈfʌŋgəs, -gaɪ] n → fungo (= mould); muffa