haustorium
[ haw-stawr-ee-uh m, -stohr- ]
/ hɔˈstɔr i əm, -ˈstoʊr- /
noun, plural haus·to·ri·a [haw-stawr-ee-uh, -stohr-] /hɔˈstɔr i ə, -ˈstoʊr-/.
a projection from the hypha of a fungus into the organic matter from which it absorbs nutrients.
the penetrating feeding organ of certain parasites.
Origin of haustorium
1870–75; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin
haus- (variant stem of
haurīre to draw, scoop up) +
-tōrium
-tory2
OTHER WORDS FROM haustorium
haus·to·ri·al, adjectiveWords nearby haustorium
haushofer,
haussmann,
haust.,
haustellate,
haustellum,
haustorium,
haustration,
haustrum,
haut monde,
haut-rhin,
hautbois
British Dictionary definitions for haustorium
haustorium
/ (hɔːˈstɔːrɪəm) /
noun plural -ria (-rɪə)
the organ of a parasitic plant that penetrates the host tissues and absorbs food and water from them
Derived forms of haustorium
haustorial, adjectiveWord Origin for haustorium
C19: from New Latin, from Late Latin
haustor a water-drawer; see
haustellum
Scientific definitions for haustorium
haustorium
[ hô-stôr′ē-əm ]
Plural haustoria
A specialized absorbing structure of a parasitic fungus or plant, such as the rootlike outgrowth of the dodder, that obtains food from a host plant. In parasitic fungi, haustoria are specialized hyphae that penetrate the cells of other organisms and absorb nutrients directly from them.