fungus
UK: ˈfʌŋɡəs | US: ˈfʌŋɡəs
n. a simple parasitic plant lacking chlorophyll, such as a mold, mushroom, or yeast
n. (pathology) an infection caused by a fungus
The word "fungus" comes directly from Latin fungus, meaning "mushroom" or "sponge." The Latin term likely originated from Greek sphongos (σπόγγος), meaning "sponge," reflecting the spongy texture of many fungi. Over time, the meaning expanded to include all non-photosynthetic organisms like molds and yeasts. The suffix -us is a standard Latin noun ending, preserved in English to denote biological classifications.
The damp basement was covered with a strange green fungus.
Athlete's foot is a common skin infection caused by a fungus.
Scientists study fungus to develop new antibiotics.
Some types of fungus are edible, like mushrooms and truffles.
The old bread had begun to grow fungus.