hypha

[ hahy-fuh ]
/ ˈhaɪ fə /

noun, plural hy·phae [hahy-fee] /ˈhaɪ fi/.

(in a fungus) one of the threadlike elements of the mycelium.

Origin of hypha

1865–70; < New Latin < Greek hyphḗ web

OTHER WORDS FROM hypha

hy·phal, adjective

Words nearby hypha

hypervolemia, hyperweak force, hypester, hypesthesia, hypethral, hypha, hyphedonia, hyphema, hyphemia, hyphen, hyphen help

Example sentences from the Web for hypha

British Dictionary definitions for hypha

hypha
/ (ˈhaɪfə) /

noun plural -phae (-fiː)

any of the filaments that constitute the body (mycelium) of a fungus

Derived forms of hypha

hyphal, adjective

Word Origin for hypha

C19: from New Latin, from Greek huphē web

Medical definitions for hypha

hypha
[ hī′fə ]

n. pl. hy•phae (-fē)

A long, slender, usually branched filament of fungal mycelium.

Scientific definitions for hypha

hypha
[ hī′fə ]

Plural hyphae (hī′fē)

One of the long slender tubes that develop from germinated spores and form the structural parts of the body of a fungus. In many species of fungi, hyphae are divided into sections by cross walls called septa. Each section contains at least one haploid nucleus, and the septa usually have perforations that allow cytoplasm to flow through the hypha. A large mass of hyphae is known as a mycelium, which is the growing form of most fungi. From time to time, hyphae develop reproductive structures that are partitioned from the hypha by holeless septa. In many species, these structures are microscopic; in others, they are visible and large. Mushrooms and shelf fungi are visible reproductive structures of fungi.