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mycelium

[ mahy-see-lee-uhm ]

noun

, Mycology.
, plural my·ce·li·a [mahy-, see, -lee-, uh].
  1. the mass of hyphae that form the vegetative part of a fungus.


mycelium

/ ˈmaɪsɪˌlɔɪd; maɪˈsiːlɪəm /

noun

  1. the vegetative body of fungi: a mass of branching filaments (hyphae) that spread throughout the nutrient substratum


mycelium

/ mī-sēlē-əm /

, Plural mycelia

  1. The mass of fine branching tubes (known as hyphae ) that forms the main growing structure of a fungus. Visible structures like mushrooms are reproductive structures produced by the mycelium.


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Derived Forms

  • myˈcelial, adjective
  • myceloid, adjective

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Other Words From

  • my·celi·al adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of mycelium1

1830–40; < New Latin, equivalent to Greek myk- myc- + ( h ) ḗl ( os ) wart, nail + New Latin -ium -ium

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Word History and Origins

Origin of mycelium1

C19 (literally: nail of fungus): from myco- + Greek hēlos nail

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Example Sentences

In recent years, entrepreneurs have started using mycelium as a base for all sorts of materials, from biodegradable packaging to vegan leather to biomedical scaffolds.

Mycelia can range farther than roots to find these nutrients.

Almost all the plants in the world share resources through a network of mycelia.

Dig a hole with the aluminum trowel, do as nature intended, and drop in three of the included tablets of mycelium.

There, its final, irresistible impulse is to latch its jaws upon the twig, dying as the mycelium finally consumes all the insect’s innards.

The fermentation is caused by the mycelium of this fungus before the development of the fructification.

Eumycetes, or Higher Fungi, a common name for those Fungi which possess a septate mycelium.

Much more disastrous results can be traced directly to the action of the mycelium in the cortex.

They are attached to the filaments of the mycelium, as in Uredo segetum.

The mycelium is usually buried in the matrix, so as not to be conspicuous.

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