mycelium

[ mahy-see-lee-uh m ]
/ maɪˈsi li əm /

noun, plural my·ce·li·a [mahy-see-lee-uh] /maɪˈsi li ə/. Mycology.

the mass of hyphae that form the vegetative part of a fungus.

Origin of mycelium

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

OTHER WORDS FROM mycelium

my·ce·li·al, adjective

Words nearby mycelium

myatonia, myatonia congenita, myatrophy, myc-, mycale, mycelium, mycella, mycenae, mycenaean, mycerinus, mycete

Example sentences from the Web for mycelium

British Dictionary definitions for mycelium

mycelium
/ (maɪˈsiːlɪəm) /

noun plural -lia (-lɪə)

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

Derived forms of mycelium

mycelial, adjective myceloid (ˈmaɪsɪˌlɔɪd), adjective

Word Origin for mycelium

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

Medical definitions for mycelium

mycelium
[ mī-sē′lē-əm ]

n. pl. my•ce•li•a (-lē-ə)

The vegetative part of a fungus, which consists of a mass of branching, threadlike hyphae.

Other words from mycelium

my•ce′li•al null adj.

Scientific definitions for mycelium

mycelium
[ mī-sē′lē-əm ]

Plural mycelia

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.