fungi

¹

[ fuhn-jahy, fuhng-gahy ]

plural noun

1. a plural of fungus.

Fungi

²

[ fuhn-jahy, fuhng-gahy ]

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. a taxonomic kingdom, or in some classification schemes a division of the kingdom Plantae, comprising all the fungus groups and sometimes also the slime molds.

fungi-

³

1. a combining form representing fungus in compound words:

   fungicide.

fungi-

¹

combining_form

1. fungus

   fungicide

   fungoid

fungi

²

/ ˈfʌndʒaɪ; ˈfʌndʒɪ; ˈfʌŋɡaɪ /

noun

1. a plural of fungus

fungi

1. sing. fungus Plantlike organisms lacking chlorophyll , such as mushrooms, molds, yeasts, and mildews. Modern biologists tend to place fungi in their own kingdom , not in the plant kingdom , because they get their nutrients from other living things (or from the remains of living things that have died) rather than from photosynthesis . ( See under “Medicine and Health.” )

Word History and Origins

Origin of fungi¹

From New Latin; fungus

Example Sentences

The results show that wind and snow are the most common causes of tree damage, followed by forestry and then fungi.

From Science Daily

Tests with other organisms showed that the method can even replicate the root structure of fungi, called hyphae.

From Science Daily

"We've known for many years that fungi are nature's degraders," said Hill-Maini, noting that fungi used to reduce streams of food waste could be the "most efficient way to convert waste into human food."

From Salon

"Trees and wood; plants, flowers, fruit and nuts; and fungi play a crucial role in the balance of the ecosystem in all the parks and are an important food source for wildlife," they say.

From BBC

But every year, California growers apply more than 180 million pounds of pesticides to crops in an effort to defend them from weeds, fungi, insects and other pests.

From Los Angeles Times