lichen

li·chen  (lkn)

n.

1. A fungus, usually of the class Ascomycetes, that grows symbiotically with algae, resulting in a composite organism that characteristically forms a crustlike or branching growth on rocks or tree trunks.

2. Pathology Any of various skin diseases characterized by patchy eruptions of small, firm papules.

tr.v. li·chened, li·chen·ing, li·chens

To cover with lichens.

---

[Latin lchn, a kind of plant, from Greek leikhn, from leikhein, to lick; see leigh- in Indo-European roots.]

---

lichen·ous adj.

---

lichen [ˈlaɪkən ˈlɪtʃən]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) an organism that is formed by the symbiotic association of a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium and occurs as crusty patches or bushy growths on tree trunks, bare ground, etc. Lichens are now classified as a phylum of fungi (Mycophycophyta)

2. (Medicine / Pathology) Pathol any of various eruptive disorders of the skin

[via Latin from Greek leikhēn, from leikhein to lick]

lichened  adj

lichen-like  adj

lichenoid  adj

lichenous , lichenose adj

---

lichen  (lkn)

The mutualistic symbiotic association of a fungus with an alga or a cyanobacterium, or both. The fungal component of a lichen absorbs water and nutrients from the surroundings and provides a suitable environment for the alga or cyanobacterium. These live protected among the dense fungal hyphae and produce carbohydrates for the fungus by photosynthesis. Owing to this partnership, lichens can thrive in harsh environments such as mountaintops and polar regions. The more familiar lichens grow slowly as crusty patches, but lichens are found in a variety of forms, such as the tall, plantlike reindeer moss. The association between the different organisms in a lichen is so close that lichens are routinely referred to as a single organism, and scientists classify lichens using the name of the fungal component.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	lichen - any of several eruptive skin diseases characterized by hard thick lesions grouped together and resembling lichens growing on rocks disease of the skin, skin disease, skin disorder - a disease affecting the skin lichen planus, lichen ruber planus - an eruption of shiny flat-topped purplish (usually itchy) papules on the wrist and forearms and thighs
	2.	lichen - any thallophytic plant of the division Lichenes; occur as crusty patches or bushy growths on tree trunks or rocks or bare ground etc. division Lichenes, Lichenes - comprising the lichens which grow symbiotically with algae; sometimes treated as an independent group more or less coordinate with algae and fungi ascolichen - a lichen in which the fungus component is an ascomycete basidiolichen - a lichen in which the fungus component is a basidiomycete lecanora - any lichen of the genus Lecanora; some used in dyeing; some used for food roccella, Roccella tinctoria - a source of the dye archil and of litmus beard lichen, beard moss, Usnea barbata - greenish grey pendulous lichen growing on trees horsehair lichen, horsetail lichen - any of several lichens of the genus Alectoria having a thallus consisting of filaments resembling hair arctic moss, Cladonia rangiferina, reindeer lichen, reindeer moss - an erect greyish branching lichen of Arctic and even some north temperate regions constituting the chief food for reindeer and caribou and sometimes being eaten by humans crotal, crottal, crottle - any of several lichens of the genus Parmelia from which reddish brown or purple dyes are made Cetraria islandica, Iceland lichen, Iceland moss - lichen with branched flattened partly erect thallus that grows in mountainous and Arctic regions; used as a medicine or food for humans and livestock; a source of glycerol fungus - an organism of the kingdom Fungi lacking chlorophyll and feeding on organic matter; ranging from unicellular or multicellular organisms to spore-bearing syncytia

Translations

lichen [ˈlaɪkən] N → liquen m

---

lichen [ˈlaɪkən ˈlɪtʃən] n → lichen m

---

lichen

n → Flechte f

---

lichen [ˈlaɪkən] n → lichene m

---

lichen [ˈlaɪkən] n → lichene m

---

lichen

n lichen [ˈlaikən, ˈlitʃən]

any of a large group of tiny plants which grow over stones, trees etc. houtswam, klipmos حَزاز صَخْر лишей lišejník lav die Flechte λειχήνα líquen samblik گلسنگ jäkälä lichen חֲזָזִית लाइकेन lišaj zuzmó kerakap flétta, skóf lichene 地衣類 지의류(地衣類) kerpė ķērpis liken korstmos lav porost líquen lichen лишайник lišajník lišaj lišaj lav เห็ดรา liken 地衣, 苔蘚 лишайник چھڑیلا، اشنہ، ایک قسم کی کائی địa y 地衣, 青苔, 苔藓