conidium

[ koh-nid-ee-uh m, kuh- ]
/ koʊˈnɪd i əm, kə- /

noun, plural co·nid·i·a [koh-nid-ee-uh, kuh-] /koʊˈnɪd i ə, kə-/. Botany.

(in fungi) an asexual spore formed by abstriction at the top of a hyphal branch.

Origin of conidium

1865–70; < Greek kón(is) dust (akin to incinerate) + -idium

OTHER WORDS FROM conidium

co·nid·i·al, co·nid·i·an, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for conidium

  • When it has reached the front of the opening in the conidium, which is thus emptied, the mass remains immovable.

    Fungi: Their Nature and Uses |Mordecai Cubitt Cooke

British Dictionary definitions for conidium

conidium
/ (kəʊˈnɪdɪəm) /

noun plural -nidia (-ˈnɪdɪə)

an asexual spore formed at the tip of a specialized hypha (conidiophore) in fungi such as Penicillium

Derived forms of conidium

conidial or conidian, adjective

Word Origin for conidium

C19: from New Latin, from Greek konis dust + ium

Medical definitions for conidium

conidium
[ kə-nĭdē-əm ]

n. pl. co•nid•i•a (-ē-ə)

An asexually produced fungal spore, formed on a conidiophore.

Other words from conidium

co•nidi•al adj.

Scientific definitions for conidium

conidium
[ kə-nĭdē-əm ]

Plural conidia

An asexually produced fungal spore, formed on a conidiophore. Most conidia are dispersed by the wind and can endure extremes of cold, heat, and dryness. When conditions are favorable, they germinate and grow into hyphae.